The Saugeen Ojibway Nation doesn’t want to delay any expansion plans of the Hanover-Walkerton lanfill.
But Saugeen First Nation chief Randall Kahgee says they need to be consulted since any expansion of the landfill affects their traditional lands.
Kahgee says First Nations people are entitled to consultation on any such project affecting their lands and he says there is no record of that happening.
He says they’re trying to set up a meeting with the municipality to work out a process that will help address their concerns specifically.
Kahgee says right now all conversation has been general.
Kahgee says he’s aware that the municipality is concerned that the natives came into the picture at a late stage of development.
He says it’s the Crown’s responsibility to engage the discussion and not just with a letter.
Kahgee says a concerted effort must be made.
He also recognizes First Nations can’t “sit on their hands” and say “that’s the way it is.”
The landfill expansion is a 13 million dollar project that needs to be ready to go in 2-years or sooner because that’s the life left in the dump as it is now.
Chief Kahgee says reaching an agreement with the municipality is “doable.”