So United Counties support is strictly moral, perhaps the Mayor J. Charlebois of Hawkesbury could please inform as to what it is exactly (the criteria) that qualifies projects for more than moral support. What criteria did the Rockland Yoga Center meet to receive the generous support of UCPR? On 2007-09-07 a token voucher from this company's "Grande Overture" promoting a draw was sent out via regional government mail (community services) to area residents. Wow what a great idea... use government mailing systems to advertise such a great project. Is this project for non-profit or a charity perhaps? I thought it was a private business. I suppose some people may find it amusing. I am not one of them. Political favouritism?

Then on Sept. 27^th' 07 the Mayor Mr. D Pommainville made this statement "the project has been in the works for six or seven years and that it was moving ahead 'like a canoe on the Nation River and not like a vehicle on the 417' Of course it has, with all of his interferences and obstructions no wonder. Let's talk about the telephone call I received 24hrs after Yvan St-Jeans death, from the L'Orignal Court House for a fine regarding the building Code Act for the traditional meeting circle structure. There are other sites in Ontario with the same such structure. Not one of these projects encountered such fines, trouble and stop work orders. The fine still stands Yvan St Jean died, not CFNE.

CFNE had to do one environmental assessment and two re-assessments because of municipal errors. Environmental assessments are understandably costly and again the project was delayed.

Water drainage issues on the property site, made the site a breeding ground for mosquitoes and West Nile Disease. This purposely disrupted and stopped all of CFNE's plans for National Aboriginal Day Celebrations on their own site. Not to mention delaying the project and impeding aboriginal development.

What's disturbing, for CFNE is that Mr. Pommainville knew since Nov. 1990 of an archaeological assessment stage 1 that was done in the village of St-Isadore. Identifying a cemetery via a topographic map (1937). This paper would have propelled the funding for CFNE earlier. He knew that this land was a high risk to develop. Why was such important documentation hidden?

It all gets worse now some forces are trying to re-zone the land in St. Isadore to industrial, burial grounds and all.

The area was originally known as the Kerry settlement. Established early 1800 are by the Scottish. The community was mixed blood, (Métis) Scottish and Native. Apparently there are three burial sites at this location and near these graves the municipality approved a two meter deep excavation to remove the foundation of the church. This was done in 2008. Is this true?

Then there is the recent French CBC, Gatineau broadcast which aired on Aug.13^th, 2008 regarding the Pikwakangan Land Claim where known associate of D. Pommainville, Mr. Saint Denis said something along the lines of how the Algonquin Nations used to hang their dead in trees and that is why there are no burial grounds in UCPR. I am not French so my translating should be verified as to what exactly he did say. CFNEs' telephone rang off the hook that night. Under who's' authorization was he allowed to speak for local or regional government? Isn't he a founder of L'echo D'un people? Since when has he become an authority on the history or culture of the Algonquin Nation?

This is an alleged First Nations burial area, is nothing sacred?

On Sept. 27/07 Mr. Parisian stated in that same article how his correspondence had become "extremely frustrating" and Mr. Pommainville added "It is not always easy to work with Yvan St-Jean", Really...Go figure....

Frustrating is when rumours' surface from UCPR questioning Yvan's own heritage. Is this a personal attack or just perhaps some other way to attempt to discredit the CFNE project? I wish to inform UCPR that Yvan St-jean was the great grandson of Jules St-Jean (originally baptized Jules Martin). Jules own grandfather was a respected War Chief of his time from the St-Regis community.

Frustrating is when the municipality receives a petition and simply accepts it with no questions. At a local town meeting, dated October 1^st, 2001 at Casselman, Ontario, a French journalist known to be a pillar of the community, an environmental activist made the following statement "this type of activity should take place on the Native Reserves." And no one on the Council said or did anything about this? This is racism . First Nations People are entitled to their culture and spiritual beliefs on and off reserve. Someone should inform this person about the charters and multi-cultural act of Canada.

In closing there is just one other statement Mr.Parisien made in this same article "Looks like CFNE is an independent project" As quoted by Yvan St-Jean;"This is comical when CFNE initiatives are being developed within designated area of the "Unceded Algonquin territory" of the Pikwakanagan Land Claim. The Pikwakanagan were amongst those who assisted Cultural Foundations Native Expressions in the development and production of the Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Educational Video Footage for the ministry of education of Ontario. They are amongst several of the CFNE's partners to guarantee compliance and cultural accuracy for the new provincial aboriginal education initiatives that all children in Ontario must participate in. `

Moral Support Indeed! Over the last 5 years CFNE has endured negligence, racism, blatant persecution and discrimination from the local and regional governments along with some of their associates. These are all documented and irrefutable.

How does one fight for ones' personal cultural and spiritual rights in UCPR? Yvan St Jean has done everything he could do; including gave all that he had, except cry blood. True greatness is measured in what one does for his people, not material wealth.

Cultural Foundation Native Expressions

M. Wertwyn, Temp. General Manager