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Survivors Secretariat asks Mohawk Lake developers to be wary of potential hidden graves DONNA DURIC
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The Six Nations Survivors’ Secretariat has urged the City of Brantford to be cautious as it moves forward with plans to re-develop a massive plot of land around Mohawk Lake in the city’s Eagle Place neighbourhood. Nobody from Six Nations was at a public meeting last week at the Brantford Civic Centre where city planners presented ideas on re-redeveloping the property which sits on land under claim by Six Nations of the Grand River elected council, as well as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council and other groups. The city is looking to develop hundreds of hectares of land surrounding Mohawk Lake into a large community hub that includes remediating the contaminated Mohawk Lake, community spaces, and cultural spaces, as well. However, the Six Nations Survivors’ Secretariat, tasked with searching the grounds around the former Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford on Mohawk Street, just a stone’s throw away from the park, made
The City of Brantford presented a plan to the community on its redevelopment vision for the land around Mohawk Lake, next to the site of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School. The Six Nations Survivors Secretariat is urging the city to work together to allow the search for unmarked graves to be given proper space and care in the city's plans to develop in the area. DURIC
an impassioned plea to consider the grounds surrounding the park, as well. Scott Robertson, a lawyer who sits on the Six Nations Survivor’s Secretariat, which is tasked with searching for potential hidden graves of former students on the grounds of the former Mohawk Institute, said their voice should be considered before the city moves ahead with development. Robertson, whose mother is from Six Nations and whose dad grew up on Sherwood Ave., said the Mohawk Park rede-
velopment is close to his heart. “Brantford has a special place in my heart,” said Robertson. He told the city councillors present at last week’s meeting that the mandate of the Secretariat is to “return the children to their rightful place.” The Mohawk Institute was Canada’s longest-running residential school. “There are several thousands, perhaps, buried in unmarked graves across Canada.” The goal of survivors, he said, is to make sure all
the children are located. He said the snow on the ground right now is symbolic and represents a time for telling stories, “because the snow is on the ground and it’s covering the ground and it’s covering the spirits.” He said you’re not supposed to disturb the spirits. “The presentation tonight is with respect to disturbing the spirits.” He said while the city considers development over the spirits, consider the healing of Six Nations people and specifically, the Survivor’s Secretariat.
He said it was important to give a voice to people on Six Nations who’ve never had one. “Let’s tell some real stories. The stories of people whose voices were silenced by the Indian Act. The children were stolen from their homes and forced into residential schools.” He said records confirmed there were 57 nations of children who attended the Mohawk Institute. “Its not only Six Nations children we’re talking about. We have a responsibility to those communities as well.” The children were stolen from their homes and forced into a residential school setting, he said, and that the the Mohawk Park should honour the past and future. “I come to you, not with a threat…but just stopping and reflecting while making these decisions to make Brantford a better place,” said Robertson. He asked the city and developers to “take pause” and said he looked forward to working with them in a positive relationship. Robertson asked them to listen to the Secretariat. PM42686517