The Two Row Times offices have been barraged with letters as of late. Letters, which are demanding a public boat ramp be created for the people of Six Nations Territory to freely access.
Their complaint is that the Chiefswood ramp has restrictive hours of operation and costs money. We learned that the parks summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but many of our anglers say they like to start really early or sometimes go fishin’ in the dark.
There must be other options right? Todd Cowan mentioned to us on Facebook that the Onondaga boat ramp is cost free but also “steep, and [of bad quality].”
We are supposed to be people of the Grand River, but we have to go off reserve or pay to access it here. Shouldn’t we have the right to fish our own waters right here from our Territory?
We should have four or five public boat ramps along Highway 54, 4th Line, 6th Line and 7th Line with nice parking areas and picnic tables.
Who is the appropriate governing body you would go talk to about this? Installing our own boat access to the Grand River seems within the mandate of the Elected Council Administration, maybe public works or something. Or perhaps HDI would be interested in building a public boat ramp for the community since they have been handing out money recently.
As a declaration of Sovereignty maybe the Mohawks could build a boat launch behind the Chapel in Eagle Place. It fits right in with the Haldimand Declaration which says the Mohawks and such others own six miles on either side of the Grand River. Six Nautical miles, some have angrily said (that works out to approximately seven regular miles).
The Grand River is right in their name so who knows, maybe GRE would sponsor a few boat launch areas somewhere. The locals have dreams of catching some Walleye and feeding their families so perhaps the Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation would be willing to help.
Maybe all of the above!
Why not all work together on this and get these boats out on the water.
Just imagine a huge boat launch, marina, tourist area on Chiefswood road just over the bridge before Highway 54. Near that water pumping booth — it could take up the whole field for parking and convert the shore to a fancy dock.
Why not take things a step further and have the band pay for a few boatloads of workers to catch fresh fish every day for the elders. Whether it be Elected or traditional Council that gets the bill, the people would benefit. That’s somebody’s dream job!
This is all assuming that Grand River fish are healthy enough to be eaten. The water really looks kind’a bwooty and there always seems to be boil water advisories and toxic spills upstream but then again many anglers swear by it.
“The cleanest fish ever,” they say.
And that’s what it really comes down to. Our people want to provide for ourselves and our families in a natural way and with our own two hands. Food sovereignty, right?
We have a history. For thousands and thousands of years our nations have harvested fish from these waters, giving thanks and living in harmony with creation, and with each other.
Let’s help our people continue this tradition with dignity.
