[Indigsol] Media Release: Amikwabe Passes Flame to Community to Continue Sacred Fire

[Indigenous Peoples' Solidarity Movement -Ottawa]

>From South March Highlands Coalition: http://filesocial.com/8ept42i

Media Release
January 24, 2011
For Immediate Release

Amikwabe Passes Flame to Community to Continue Sacred Fire

(Ottawa) With the blessing of local Algonquin Chiefs, the Sacred Fire at
the threatened Beaver Pond Forest continues. In a ceremony Sunday
afternoon, Algonquin Medicine Man Ron “Big Bear” Goddard transferred
firekeeping duties to members of the community, to take over from
Algonquin Daniel Bernard "Amikwabe". Bernard started the fire January 19th
and maintained it day and night, in response to a declaration by Algonquin
Elder William Commanda that the

Christopher Busby was named as the new Firekeeper. He and other community
members will share the duties of maintaining the Sacred Fire, and welcome
those who wish to gather at the fire to offer prayers for the trees and
wildlife of the Beaver Pond Forest and all of the South

"We all sit at the Medicine Wheel and are all children of the same
mother,” explains Chief Mireille Lapointe of the Ardoch Algonquin First
Nation. “We all are responsible for our home and helping each other live a
good life. This is part of the Original Instructions. The sacred fire
brings us together and encourages discussions and synergies that otherwise
wouldn't happen. I'm deeply grateful to Daniel for his sacrifice and his
example to us."

The forests near the Beaver Pond have become a rallying point for nearby
residents and supporters from across Ottawa and beyond, who have
campaigned steadily for the past year to protect the forests and wetlands
threatened by urban expansion. Trees have already been clear-cut for the
Terry Fox Drive Extension and on Richardson Ridge, and KNL Developments
recently received City approval to begin clear-cutting for a subdivision
of more than 3000 homes on the lands north of the Beaver Pond.

Paul Renaud, who is at the forefront of the campaign to protect the South
March Highlands and his himself Metis, notes that “the continuation of the
Sacred Fire by the local community expresses the unity of purpose of all
communities in protecting the forest. The Sacred Fire symbolizes the Great
Circle of Life of which we are all a part.”

“Daniel Amikwabe Bernard and Chief Mireille Lapointe have entrusted me
with making sure the flames continue as a prayer to the Creator to protect
this irreplaceable forest in urban Ottawa,” says Christopher Busby. “I and
many others will attend this fire round the clock until we are told the
fire can be put out. This fire has rallied the Native and non-native
communities in an unprecedented way. There is great power in these
flames.”

Goddard, who is with the InterTribal Medicine Council, is training the
fire keepers and will be overseeing the fire.

-30-

For more information:

Christopher Busby -- 613-897-6183
Paul Renaud -- 613-277-5898
Steve Hulaj -- 613 878-1135

Directions:
Exit Highway 417 at Terry Fox Drive and go North past the shopping
centers. Turn Right and take Kanata
Avenue up the hill. Proceed past Goulbourn Forced Road on the left and
high school on right, to Walden.
Turn Left on Walden and proceed to the very end.


-- 
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IPSMO
on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin Territory
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