"Men's Fire may seek Lystek injunction"

Members of the Six Nations Men's Fire paid a visit to Southgate Council last week in protest of a proposed sludge plant development at the head of the Grand River.

Men's Fire member Bill Monture says they went to inform the council that Six Nations owns the land where the sludge plant is located and that they are against the conversion of sludge into fertilizer on property where they fear it could leach into the Grand River.

"They're doing all these dealings, yet nobody's coming and talking to Six Nations. That land title still remains with us."

Monture also says Southgate Council was aware the land is unceded Six Nations land but did not consult with Six Nations before giving sludge plant operator Lystek International permits to conduct operations there.

"He (Southgate Mayor Brian Milne) got caught with his foot in his mouth," says Monture. "When we asked him about knowing if this was Six Nations land...you should have seen the look on his face, he swallowed really hard and his face got red."

Lystek is at the centre of a protest initiated by Southgate residents who appealed to Six Nations residents Ruby and Floyd Montour for help this past March. Protesters believe the project is harmful to human and environmental health. They blocked entrance to construction of the plant in March but a permanent injunction issued two weeks ago has kept them off since.

Monture says the Men's Fire will be "keeping an eye" on the project and is considering getting an injunction against Lystek to prevent them from continuing with construction.

Construction on the centre has resumed in accordance with the court order but the company is still waiting for final approval from the Ministry of the Environment before it can proceed with converting sludge to fertilizer. Kevin Litwiller, manager of business development for Lystek, says he expects construction to be complete before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the Men's Fire submitted a laundry list of written questions to Southgate Township asking why they did not consult with Six Nations before approving the project. They also declared that Six Nations will not accept the development of the project until its claim to the land near Dundalk, Ont., where the plant is located, is finalized.

Turtle Island News attempted to reach Southgate Mayor Brian Milne but calls were not returned by press time.