Bala Falls: More on the Nine Months

Grannie Laughing Eagle:  Today June 1st marks the start of the 9th month Peggy Peterson has been on site (or as close as she can safely get) at Bala Falls protecting them, the trees, the scenic beauty, and honouring the water from the development of an additional hydro dam at the falls...there were originally 2 hydro dams here, the first one built in 1917 upstream from the North Falls and a second one just below the North Falls, was built in 1824, decommissioned in 1957 because the hydro wasn't needed... there are two additional hydro dams downstream from Bala which are still producing hydro for the area. 

What happens here in Bala affects many folks, both upstream into the Muskoka Lakes as the original control dam at Bala built in 1873 to help control the lake levels upstream, and the folks downstream.

Peggy may not be a local, originally from the French River area & now residing in Huntsville, and she may not have indigenous roots....but she is willing be present and speak up for all the folks affected by this project including the 4 First Nations and 2 Metis communities who live in this Oxtongue/Muskoka/Moon/Musquash watershed which extends all the way from Burnt Island Lake all the way up in Algonquin Park right through to Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve (GBBR). Myself and others continue to honour the work she and others are doing to help Save the Bala Falls... Miigwetch for all that you do.

from Peggy: "I have great news to share
It is Monday June 1 2015 and my ninth month of being Idle No More and living beside the Traditional Wahta Mohawks Portage in Bala watching the Moon river form below Lake Muskoka in Bala.

I am feeling very blessed for the experience of the last nine months of Occupy Bala Falls and we know now that the project does not have all permits and permissions to start the project in Bala. There will be more details this week and we are very happy here today.

It has been an honor and a privilege to have have been part of this experience in in an inclusive peaceful proclamation of protection and as a Land and Water Defender.

Is is also true that we are collectively protecting this beautiful town from destruction by our own government for fake expensive unneeded electricity according to the Auditor General. Democracy is not for sale and neither is our water.

Turtle Island in Bala was established on Sept !, 2014 to ensure equal and consistent access to these public lands and this important Portage.

This has always been an All Nations effort to protect what is sacred including democracy in Muskoka. This has always been an effort to draw attention to the lack of respectful consultation with First nations and Metis people from this area.

The Supreme Court consistently supports these claims so nothing can happen to destroy this place for future generations.

I have tended and protected this land to the best of my ability and not a tree has been cut or a sign put up here so I think we have been very successful

I guess it is like having a baby, giving birth to a old way to taking care of our earth and our communities. The story of this is connecting all of us... "