Article content continued

Panelist Albert Dumont, a poet and writer from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabe at Maniwaki, stressed the need to protect the space as a spiritual sanctuary “for people to heal” over development.

“We don’t need to give up a sacred site to have jobs,” he said, drawing applause. “If we make a mistake here, we can’t go back and change it.”

But Bourgeois said those opposed to Zibi need an economic reality check, and the way to care for future generations is to provide opportunity.

“There are communities that are in dire straits and are in need of something revolutionary like this,” said Bourgeois. “I’m sorry people but we are in a day and age where everybody’s financial sustainability is on the line.”

Shady Hafez, a law student and youngest voice on the panel, has roots in Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and Syria. While he says he is still pondering his stance on the Zibi project, he’s clear the consultation process has not been thorough.

However Julie Westeinde, a First Nations engagement facilitator to Zibi, said the consultation process has been ongoing and open for the past two years and the key to moving forward is ensuring First Nations communities communicate with one another.

“The beauty of this project is the impact it can bring to the Algonquin people working together with the rest of the community, and it’s one step at a time and complex.”

Five Algonquin communities in Quebec oppose the development, which is named after the Algonquin word for river, and a handful of individuals, mostly non-Algonquin, have presented their objections to the Ontario Municipal Board, which is studying requests for zoning changes required by the development.

Among appellants at the OMB is well-known First Nations architect Douglas Cardinal who argues the land should be turned over for public use, with a focus on indigenous community and culture.

The City of Ottawa is asking that their appeal against rezoning of the former Domtar lands be dismissed.