
Archaeology: Indigenous Peoples
There were Attawandaron (Neutral Nation) habitations and burial sites in the area, including accounts of early colonial Jesuit contacts. There is no evidence that indigenous groups were consulted for any of these now outdated reports included in Nelson Aggregate's application. There IS evidence that a large number of artifacts have been found in some of the areas proposed for blasting by Nelson Aggregate. These include evidence of a Neutral period cabin site longhouse, circa 1600–1650 A.D. and another small aboriginal cabin site or small hamlet, longhouse post molds, blue glass beads, thousands of ceramics, projectile points, faunal remains, thousands of unidentified bone fragments, a palisade, iron kettle with fabric fragment, two knives, a pipe bowl and stems, rim sherds and chipping detritus.
Given these findings, Indigenous representatives should be contacted and allowed to voice their concerns, if any, about this project. If more artifacts are discovered, or human remains, what assurance do we have that Nelson Aggregate will take the necessary measures to protect and account for these? Furthermore, there are no reported procedures describing what Nelson is willing and required to do to protect any potential discoveries.
After you've submitted your opposition letter, why not spend a few hours immersed in the tangible history of the Turtle Clan at the fascinating archaeological site at Crawford Lake: an Iroquoian village, where people lived and thrived in the early 1400's.
Don't you want to know if the artifacts found on the proposed blast-lands (just 11kms from Crawford Lake) might reveal an archaeological find as significant at this one?