Residents seek peaceful removal of park barricader

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/08/2020 (1988 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Residents in the Lake Audy area want Wesley Bone out of Riding Mountain National Park, and they are willing to take peaceful action themselves in the absence of action by Parks Canada.

Bone took up residence at a kitchen structure in December 2019. He also erected a teepee. Since The Brandon Sun first wrote about Bone, when he publicly declared his stand in early June, he has added signage and messages around the area he is occupying, as well as steel cattle gates at the Lake Audy entrance to the park.

He said his goal continues to be to use the area to teach young Indigenous people about their true history and identity. He does not recognize modern treaties or the Indian Act.

Darla Krupa is one of two spokespeople for a group of 26 residents opposed to Bone’s presence. In the absence of Parks Canada action on the matter, they’ve decided to “peacefully make our presence known.” The plan is for residents to gather at the park sometime next week. There are high emotions, and Krupa wants to ensure everyone is calm.

Krupa said they’ve appealed to Parks Canada and the RCMP, to no avail. She said the park is for everybody, not just one individual.

“He’s barricading a good portion of that space and making everybody feel unwelcome,” she said.

“What has changed? We’ve always gotten along.”

Chief Norman Bone of Keeseekoowenin First Nation – which belongs to the Coalition of First Nations with Interest in RMNP – told the Sun in June his cousin does not have a mandate to “take over a kitchen hut” at the park and does not have the support of the community. The First Nation and the park enjoy a good working relationship.

Residents have had several town meetings to discuss the matter. Member of Parliament Dan Mazier has attended one such meeting. In early July, he wrote to Jonathan Wilkinson, the minister responsible for Parks Canada, pointing out that Bone, with his “unlawful occupation,” is flouting the law. He asked for an urgent resolution the matter.

Wilkinson replied a month later.

“Parks Canada staff are aware of local pressure to resume camping at Lake Audy Campground and to find a respectful resolution to the unauthorized occupation. The forceful expulsion of First Nations from their homes in 1935 during the establishment of Riding Mountain National Park has left a legacy of hurt and broken connections. Moving forward, Parks Canada does not want to repeat history, but rather to continue fostering positive and collaborative relationships with the Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation, Coalition of First Nations and Indigenous peoples of the region,” Wilkinson stated.

“Accordingly, Parks Canada will continue to work with the individuals, partners, local residents, and the Coalition of First Nations to find a solution that is reasonable, measured and respectful.”

Mazier wrote Wilkinson yet again on Aug. 11.

“Evidential accounts of erected structures, vandalism and verbal abuse have created a toxic environment from which I now fear for the safety of the public, in addition to the very individual(s) engaged in an unauthorized occupation,” Mazier stated.

Krupa similarly mentioned safety for local residents who wish to access public areas.

Meanwhile, Bone said there have been 24 attacks on him – and acts of vandalism against him – this summer. But, he said Friday, in the last 48 hours things seem to be improving.

“When I checked the gate this morning, somebody actually brought back the eagle feather that they tore off the gate in February. The put it at the gate entrance. I had a little ceremony. Whoever did that has a lot of courage,” Bone said.

Bone also said he has a good relationship with park staff and the RCMP, as well as area residents.

“I talk to a lot of them. A lot of them are very friendly. We actually talk for a long time. A lot of them are really understanding,” he said.

Randal Roulette of Sandy Bay First Nation, who is a sun dancer, visited Bone Thursday. They talked at length about the area, the land and treaties.

“I learned quite a bit as I sat with him. I felt it’s important that we teach our young people about these things, too. And about identity. As a concerned citizen I feel I’m responsible to help educate our youth,” Roulette said, adding he strongly believes many of the social issues and addictions problems stem from a lack of knowledge of identity.

Roulette is in the planning stages of organizing land-based teaching for children. He thinks Riding Mountain National Park, with its rich Indigenous history, would be an ideal location. Sandy Bay is a member of the Coalition of First Nations with Interest in RMNP.

When asked about the evolving situation at the park, Roulette said he thinks what Bone is doing is within his legal rights.

“It’s unceded territory and he’s exercising his right to be there,” he said.

Mazier told the Sun Parks Canada is ignoring the fact that federal laws are being broken, ignoring their responsibility to uphold the Parks Canada mandate, and ignoring consideration for every Canadian to enjoy Canada’s natural and peaceful beauty.

Municipality of Harrison Park Reeve Jason Potter said the situation has kept him up nights. He worries it will escalate and lead to a confrontation. He worries about the safety of the residents, as well as Bone’s safety.

“Unfortunately, Parks Canada does not want to do a whole lot about it right now,” he said, adding he’s willing to sit with all the parties involved and help mediate a solution.

The RCMP, in response to several questions, stated that while they aware of the situation at Riding Mountain, questions should be directed to Parks Canada, including enforcement questions.

Parks Canada, meanwhile, stated because the park is busy heading into the weekend, it could not meet the Sun’s Friday deadline for comment.

» mletourneau@brandonsun.com

» Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.