Aamjiwnaang’s chief is looking for redress after she says a Sarnia and Lambton County councillor made disrespectful and false feedback.
Printed Feb 07, 2025 • 3 minute learn
Aamjiwnaang First Nation Chief Janelle Nahmabin. (File photograph)
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Aamjiwnaang’s chief is looking for redress after she says a Sarnia and Lambton County councillor made disrespectful and false feedback.
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“It is imperative that Lambton County and the City of Sarnia take immediate and meaningful action to address this matter, as failure to do so could significantly harm relations between the county, the city, and Aamjiwnaang First Nation,” Janelle Nahmabin says in a Feb. 2 letter addressed to Lambton Warden Kevin Marriott and Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley.
Coun. Invoice Dennis, a Sarnia and county councillor, Nov. 27 made “untrue … insulting and disparaging” feedback in regards to the chief and Aamjiwnaang members, Nahmabin stated, quoting and time-stamping seven examples from a public recording of council’s open session.
Dennis in his feedback contended Nahmabin is “very, very anti-Chemical Valley,” is decided to “get rid of” Sarnia-Lambton’s chemical crops and refineries, has used phrases like “environmental terrorism” to explain the valley, and accused Aamjiwnaang of placing Ineos Styrolution’s native facility out of enterprise.
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“We cannot keep on being weak to these people,” Dennis stated Nov. 27. “We can’t. We’ve got to show some backbone.”
Nahmabin stated she’s by no means stated her finish aim is to do away with Chemical Valley, and Aamjiwnaang “devotes an exceptional amount of time and resources to developing constructive relationships with neighbouring industry.”
She’s by no means used the time period “environmental terrorism” usually or in reference to native industries, she stated, and defined it was Ontario and Canada setting ministries that introduced orders towards Ineos Styrolution for benzene discharges over provincial limits, impacting native public well being and security.
“It is incumbent upon members of county and city council to refrain from making disparaging remarks about members of the public, to avoid aggressive, offensive and abusive conduct, and to speak with accuracy and honesty on all matters for which councils are called upon to deliberate,” she stated, calling for Dennis to retract his statements, for public, formal apologies from town and county, and for metropolis and county councils to name for integrity investigations into Dennis’s conduct.
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Dennis was performing as a Lambton councillor on the time, however is a Sarnia consultant on that council and is sure by town’s code, Nahmabin says.
“Members of Aamjiwnaang, like all members of the public, have a right to engage with municipal governments without fear of being smeared, discriminated against, or harassed by elected officials,” Nahmabin stated.
Sarnia Coun. Invoice Dennis (Paul Morden/ Ontario Chronicle)
Dennis’s feedback are at odds with a land acknowledgment adopted by county council, and with Sarnia’s work to advance the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through an area working group, Nahmabin stated.
Dennis’ feedback additionally ignore the historical past of environmental hurt Aamjiwnaang has endured, as acknowledged by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, non-governmental environmental organizations, and the United Nations particular rapporteur on toxins, she stated.
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County council Nov. 27 was contemplating Nahmabin’s request to offer cash to the First Nation that went to the county after Imperial Oil was fined for discharging “slop oil” in 2021. Aamjiwnaang members have been amongst these affected by the spill.
County council voted on the time to obtain and file the request.
Nahmabin, in her Feb. 2 letter, asks Lambton to rethink her request at its subsequent assembly. Related paperwork are additionally on Sarnia metropolis council’s agenda for Feb. 10, at Nahmabin’s request.
“We would welcome the opportunity to meet with the Lambton County council and Sarnia city council to discuss these matters further, as well as the relationship between the county, city and Aamjiwnaang more broadly,” Nahmabin stated.
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Dennis in the meantime, reacted on Fb Thursday to Nahmabin’s letter, arguing he was advocating for native jobs along with his feedback Nov. 27, and asserting his priorities are voters and their jobs.
“I am staunchly opposed to anything that hampers production, productivity, growth, infrastructure and your ability to make a livelihood in the City of Sarnia,” he stated, including he finds Nahmabin’s “remarks to be a threat against me for doing my job.”
Dennis has confronted a number of integrity commissioner investigations over six years on metropolis council and is at present concerned in two lawsuits, together with one wherein he’s suing the Metropolis of Sarnia and chief administrator Chris Carter.
Not one of the allegations have been examined in court docket.
With recordsdata from Paul Morden
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