From: Kim Patrick Weaver

Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 18:05:08 -0800

To: <rabbi@familyshul.org>
Cc: <info@holocaustmonument.ca>
Conversation: National Holocaust Monument - grammar correction
Subject: National Holocaust Monument - grammar correction
Greetings Rabbi Friedman

I am writing to call to your attention that the planned site of the National Holocaust
Monument is unceded land belonging to the sovereign Algonquin Nation. The land was
never surrendered by Treaty and the land was never lawfully purchased under the legal
processes established by the Royal Proclamation and the Treaty of Niagara 1763.
The following article called my attention to this issue. It is now highly visible among the
Indigenous community on social media.
http://westcoastnativenews.com/national-holocaust-monument-to-be-built-on-uncededalgonquin-territory/
I am astonished that the Government of Canada and your committee would build such a
monument commemorating and symbolizing what it does on unceded Indigenous land
when the history of Canada is a continuing tale of genocide perpetrated upon the
Indigenous population of Turtle Island.
The idea is both ironic and repugnant. I would ask in a strong voice you reconsider this
insult to the Indigenous people of Turtle Island

:nen ki' whi

Kim
Kim Patrick Weaver
Kanyenkeh:ka
Turtle Clan

From: Rabbi Daniel Friedman <Rabbi@familyshul.org>

Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 13:00:24 -0700
To: Kim Patrick Weaver
Subject: RE: National Holocaust Monument
Dear Kim,
Thank you for your correspondence. Im not sure I understand: I see that the title says
that we are building on native land but then nothing in the article says that. It only
mentions the Parliament.
Sincerely,

Rabbi D. Friedman

From: Kim Patrick Weaver

Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 16:32:32 -0800
To: Rabbi Daniel Friedman <Rabbi@familyshul.org>
Conversation: National Holocaust Monument
Subject: Re: National Holocaust Monument
Skn:nen Rabbi (Peace in my language)
The Government of Canada does not make a habit of identifying unceded Indigenous
land. However, it is not a disputed fact. When our Peoples gather on what Canada calls
Parliament Hill, we acknowledge as the first order of ceremony that we honour the
Peoples and the Ancestors of the Algonquin People on whose land we stand.
The Algonquin People have never signed a treaty for their land with Canada or England
before that. By international law the occupation, because it was not done in keeping laws
and rules established with the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the Treaty of Niagara is
not legal except by the application of colonial power.
Indigenous Peoples spiritual beliefs are permanently linked to the land we call home.
We are one with the land. We are the land; the land is us. The Algonquin People have
fought long and hard with the Government of Canada to preserve their sacred places
and to have their sovereign rights recognized as title holders.
The Tsilhqotin People in William v BC, won a Supreme Court of Canada decision this
summer that recognized Indigenous Rights to unceded, unsurrendered land. This is the
link to their decision.
http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/factums-memoires/34986/FM010_Appellant_Roger-William.pdf
This decision is a landmark case in the struggle between Indigenous People and
Canada. Canada must recognize the existence of Indigenous title in the case of land
never surrendered. To the Algonquin, they recognize their title as stewards and
occupiers of this land for thousands of years. The Algonquin I understand are reconsidering their position on the land claim in light of the Tsilhqotin decision
Rather than take just my humble words for this, I offer some links that provide details
and confirmation of the outstanding land claim made by the Algonquin People.
http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1355436558998/1355436749970
https://www.ontario.ca/aboriginal/algonquin-land-claim
http://www.algonquinsofpikwakanagan.com/chief_council_land_claim.php
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/07/11/high_court_rulings_could_impact_majo
r_ontario_land_claim.html
http://spacing.ca/ottawa/2010/12/19/when-truth-is-stranger-than-fiction-the-capital-thatsits-on-another-nations-land/
The history of Canada is one of betrayal and deceit to Indigenous People. Ten of

thousands of our people died of illnesses brought by the Settlers. Thousands more died
as a direct result of government policy to starve us into submission to move to barren
reserve lands so prime land could be given to white settlers. Then, they introduced the
horror of the Indian Residential School on us to drive the Indian out of our . The last one
closed in 1996.
The building of the National Holocaust Museum on land never lawfully given up by the
Algonquin People would be a travesty of the spirit and of the law.
Niawen Kowa (Thank you very much) for replying to my first message
Kim