Fort William First Nation is taking steps to close the illegal landfill on Squaw Bay Road.
The dumpsite has been in existence for decades and there have been initiatives to try to close it several times before. On Nov. 30, Fort William First Nation chief and council approved a motion to close and restore the site.
“We had felt there had been a lot of comments made by our community members in regards to the situation over there, not only the appearance but the potential for some health risks,” said Fort William First Nation communications officer Wally Bannon.
“We decided as a council to put a stop once and for all to the site.”
Many groups over the years, often made up of young people, have tried to clean up the site and have it closed permanently. However, people continued to use the site as a free landfill despite signage stating that dumping was illegal and fines would be levied against offenders.
Garbage from old toys and furniture to animal carcasses have been dumped at the site and some people even use the area to burn garbage.
But the trash isn’t confined to the illegal landfill, as garbage litters the road and yards near it.
Council knows a transition period is needed so large garbage bins have been placed on site for people to throw their garbage into; security will also be hired to monitor the site along with stronger police presence and enforcement of the bylaws.
Signs will be placed throughout the reserve and Bannon said they also want to educate the community members about recycling.
Once the dump has been closed and people stop using it, the next step is restoring the land.
“One of the things we have to start to plan for in the future is the community’s land base isn’t growing, but the population is,” said Bannon. “A lot of our land is non-useable land like the mountains and that.
We have to start to plan towards land use planning for residential areas, commercial areas we will be needing for the future.”
Fort William First Nation councillor Georjann Morriseau said closing and restoring the site is going to be a work in progress, but she’s optimistic this will be the plan that finally closes the dump for good.
“It might take some time but I think if we enforce our bylaws and put proper measures in place throughout this transitional process, I think it will catch on, but it’s going to take leading by example,” she said.
“It’s going to take proper management and proper planning around this dumpsite and how we’re going to close it and keep reiterating to the people that this is illegal.”
Morriseau said they not only have a duty to protect their people, but to protect their land. The dump is contaminating their land and watershed. It’s also attracting dangerous animals like bears and wolves to a residential area.
“We have to look out for the best interest of our people, their health, their quality of life and we also have to look out for how we are going to manage our land in the future and years to come,” she said.
“We want it to be there when our grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow.”
While the council does have a plan in place, Morriseau said there is room to grow and change it as needed; she said it will take time to develop a strong, sound strategy.
“It’s a matter of constantly coming back to the drawing board and working on it, seeing what works, what isn’t working and changing it as we go – keeping it a work in progress with the people.”
