Chief Dylan Whiteduck of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, left, speaks in June 2023 during a previous news conference on the opposition to the planned radioactive waste dump. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang
A benefit concert will be held on November 22 at First United Church in Westboro, Ottawa, to raise awareness and show support for those opposing a proposed radioactive waste facility near the Kichi Sibi (Ottawa River). The event, which will bring together First Nations, musicians, and activists, aims to highlight the environmental and Indigenous rights concerns surrounding the facility.
The concert will feature performances by Canadian folk music icon Ian Tamblyn, Drew Gonsalves of the Juno Award-winning band Kobo Town, Kebaowek First Nation singers and drummers, singer-songwriter Pat Mayberry, Celtic group Dolas with Kevin and Ciaran Dooley, and Just Voices Choir. All performers are donating their talents to raise funds in support of Kebaowek First Nation’s case in Federal Court.
Kebaowek First Nation, located near Temiscaming, Quebec, argues that free, prior, and informed consent is required for the nuclear waste project under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), a framework Canada has adopted. The First Nation has been vocal in its opposition to the proposed Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF), which is located on unceded Algonquin territory.
Chief Lance Haymond of Kebaowek First Nation emphasized the importance of the Ottawa River, calling it an essential source of drinking water for millions of Canadians. “We are standing firm in our commitment to protect the Kichi Sibi and the lands that have sustained our people for generations,” said Haymond. “This benefit concert is not only a call for awareness but also a rallying point for all those who value the Ottawa River and oppose the nuclear waste project that threatens it.”
The NSDF, which is funded by the federal government and managed by a consortium of three multinational corporations, aims to store low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. The project is located on the site of the Chalk River nuclear campus, a facility created by the Canadian government in 1944 for nuclear weapons development during World War II. The campus has since been used for research and development, including plutonium production, and has been the site of two major nuclear accidents.
Cheryl Gorman, a co-organizer of the event, explained the significance of the concert. “Many residents have been protesting the nuclear waste mound near our river for years, and now that the fight has moved into the courts, we wanted to support those on the front lines,” Gorman said. “We’re so grateful for the Algonquin First Nations standing up to protect and honour the land and the water.”
Eva Schacherl, another co-organizer, echoed the sentiment, stating, “This river is the lifeblood of our communities and the water source for some nine million Canadians. We hope the music will bring together residents concerned about protecting the river and our drinking water from radioactive pollution, with First Nations who are fighting so hard to protect the Kichi Sibi for future generations.”
The event is supported by First United Church, the Council of Canadians’ Ottawa Chapter, and Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area. It will also highlight Kebaowek First Nation’s ongoing legal battle to halt the facility’s development and demand respect for Indigenous rights.
The concert will take place at First United Church in Westboro, Ottawa, on November 22. For more information about the event and how to support Kebaowek First Nation’s case, visit Riversong 2: Concert for the Kichi Sibi – Ottawa River.