Heritage groups concerned about deforestation, development of Lemay Forest

Three heritage groups are expressing their concern about the continuous deforestation and development of Lemay Forest, and urge the provincial government to intervene and stop more interruptions in the area, which they believe has a significant cultural, natural and historical value.

The historical society of Manitoba, the Winnipeg heritage and the Archaeological Society of Manitoba affirm that the remains of children of the Cemetery of Ritchot de Coral Heritage and the United Nations Declaration for the United Nations. of the right of indigenous peoples.

“It is a major problem that only protects the trees, it is about protecting a sacred area used for the ritual and was used for burial,” said Tracey Turner, executive director of the Historical Society of Manitoba.

“The developer said there may be 1,500 buried children, they thought that would be the limit, now they were looking at more than 3,383 deaths in that site.”

The academics, like Shelley Sweeney of the archives of the University of Manitoba, say that although the new records reveal that more than 3,300 children died in the Azil orphanage, the exact number buried on the site and its ethnic background remains without being clear.

“I think it is a cultural and historical link for the development of the province of Manitoba,” Sweeney said.

“Not all records have all the ethnicity of registered children, but I have seen between 8 and 15 percent were Metis, although it could be higher.”

Turner emphasizes that deforestation could further disturb these tombs, and is asking to stop in development until appropriate evaluations are completed.

“I think that if you ask someone except the developer, what is right to honor the site,” Turner said.

The Earth developer, John Wintrup, argues that consultations with indigenous groups and the provincial government have been ongoing, and their intention is to protect the area with a 100 -meter shock absorber around any unmarked grave.

“We have never indicated that they will develop on them, I think a lot of wrong information is spreading,” Wintrup said.

“We have always wanted to accommodate some indigenous ceremonies on property.”

Wintrup says he attended a meeting of the Municipal Board on Wednesday to request a zoning change. However, regardless of the result, the elimination of trees for future development plans continues.