The Pines have been the centre stage of ongoing tensions since 1990 and the forest continues to face threats from within the community.
(VIRGINIE ANN THE EASTERN DOOR)
[apss_share]
Dear Readers:
As an essential service that is still open during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Eastern Door is fighting hard to keep news like this flowing, in our print product, though an online subscription at www.eastermdoor.com and here, for free, on our website and Facebook.
But when a large portion of our regular revenue has disappeared due to so many other businesses being closed, our circulation being affected by the same issue, and all of our specials canceled until the end of the year, we are looking for alternative ways to keep operations going, staff paid, and the paper out every Friday for you to enjoy.
Please consider a financial contribution to help us keep doing what we do best; telling the stories of our people in a contemporary medium – a solid, continuing archive that documents our cherished, shared history. Your kind donation will go to a newspaper that stands as the historical record, in-depth, informative and award-winning news; colourful stories, and a big boost to the local economy by employing 95 percent local workers.
Also, please consider subscribing to our e-edition, which comes out Thursday night, at www.easterndoor.com today, or pick up your copy Friday morning in Kahnawake, Kanesatake or Chateauguay. Akwesasne delivery has been suspended due to the pandemic and border issues.
We exercise real freedom of the press every single day. Without our reporters fighting for the truth our community would be missing a whole lot of facts, separated from gossip and rumors.
E-transfers are accepted and very much appreciated at: stevebonspiel@hotmail.com.
Early Monday morning, speculation grew about another illegal tree cutting happening in Kanesatake.
Apprehension clouded the atmosphere, as the women in the community continue to peacefully object the overdevelopment in the Pines for the past two weeks.
However, this time around, it was a Kanehsata’kehró:non who took it upon himself to clean up and restore, an alternative to cutting down more sacred pine trees.
As the owner of AAAA’s Smoke and Cannabis store along Route 344, Reuben Nicholas has been sitting in the front row of tensions over illegal development that reached a boiling point on Tuesday, November 17.
As previously reported in The Eastern Door, on that day, community member Todd Simon decided to clear-cut a portion of the forest between Big Chief’s cannabis store and Reuben’s, hoping to start his own business.
While Simon wasn’t the first one to disregard the 2010 moratorium that was put in place in order to protect the Pines, he was rapidly met with contestation and disapproval from the community.
A women’s group of Kanesatake, who ask to be referred to as The People, mobilized to block the development site. Since then, Simon hasn’t been seen on the site, either to continue construction or to help clean up the dead trees that remained lying on the ground.
“This kind of environment is no good,” said Nicholas, pointing to the desolating site next to his shop. “We want to improve this land in Kanesatake, not to make it look like a scrap yard or some kind of a dumpsite, you know?”
Worried that it was Simon resuming his construction with more tree cutting, a few land defenders stopped by Nicholas’ shop on Monday morning. They were reassured and he confirmed that he offered to clean up and watch over the land.
“Reuben is 100 percent for the beauty of Kanesatake,” said one of The People’s members.
The 70-year-old man is no stranger to Kanehsata’kehró:non anger when it comes to the development in the Pines. Earlier in October, Nicholas faced the same disapproval as he started to cut down trees in front of the Lacrosse field, on the lakeside, also looking to build his own smoke shop.
“I didn’t consult anyone,” said Nicholas in a previous interview with The Eastern Door. “I got fed up to see we don’t have anything left.” However, Nicholas was stopped by the provincial police as he was cutting trees on what is considered municipal land presently.
Seeing how it sparkled conflict within the community, Nicholas decided to take another route and bought AAAA’s Smoke and Cannabis store.
He said that this time, it felt wrong to watch another community member destroy the Pines. Nicholas felt compelled to clean it up, and wanted to “help Mother Earth.”
“Don’t just put trees down and waste it, use it,” he said. “We take what we need and give back.”
Nicholas said that the cleanup plan, once completed, includes having picnic tables for people to come and enjoy the Pines.
He added that this is what Kanesatake should be about, impressing visitors enough to build a strong economy, while respecting nature.
virginie.ann.news@gmail.com
