ALDERVILLE CHIEF, COUNCIL EVICTS INHABITANTS OF PROPERTY

LARGE CONTINGENT FROM ALDERVILLE FIRST NATION SERVES BAND COUNCIL RESOLUTION AT PROPERTY ALLEGEDLY SITE OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY

In a show of solidarity, a large contingent from Alderville First Nation led by Chief Dave Mowat showed up to essentially take back their neighbourhood from inhabitants of a property, which has allegedly been the site of illegal drug activity and possibly has a connection to a recent shooting investigation.

Mowat, members of band council and other community members assembled at a residence on Shearer Point Road in Alderville First Nation's territory in the early evening of March 16.

Armed with a Band Council Resolution (BCR) — a legal document to evict the residents and immediately leave the community — Mowat, band council members, several other Alderville First Nation members and an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer made the trek toward the residence up a long, sloped and icy laneway.

The group entered the gate to the wooden fenced compound posted with warning signs, including one with handguns on it, which read: "Warning. If you are found here tonight, you will be found here tomorrow."

Inside the compound, Mowat knocked on the side door of the small, board-and-batten-sided bungalow. After several knocks a man appeared wearing a tuque emblazoned with a marijuana symbol. Another man could be seen in the front window of the house.

Mowat presented the man the BCR document, which essentially evicted everyone residing on the property and indicated they were required to leave Alderville First Nation territory immediately.

"We're taking over and we're just shutting these operations down here. We're working with our OPP partners and we're not putting up with it," said Mowat.

When asked if there was anyone else living in the house, the man said: "I only have one tenant. I've kicked out the problems. I seen what was happening here, so I've kicked out my nephew and my sister, and they're gone. Long gone."

During what can be described as congenial negotiations between Mowat and the man, it was agreed that he and his tenant would leave within 48 hours.

" ... We went back to the residence on Saturday evening, and assured any stragglers were gone," said Mowat, in a follow-up on Monday, March 20. "We then had some assistance — by community members — in boarding up the house, and we also dropped a 400-pound concrete block in the centre of the driveway."

"There has been alleged illegal drug activity here," said Mowat, on the evening of March 16. "There was alleged violent crime that happened in the residence here. And, he's not a band member," said Mowat.

"He's got to leave. Non-band

members, non-indians have matrimonial real property rights. Under our matrimonial real property law, he has circumvented, in our view, our law. A spouse, like in (name omitted) case; his partner passed away last July; (and) in his case to stay here, he has to maintain the home and be responsible. Well, he's proved that he's not responsible — allegedly."

Mowat was unequivocal regarding anyone accused of bringing illegal drug activities and violent crime within Alderville First Nation territory: Leave and leave now.

"Leave Alderville. Go somewhere else. Don't do your drug activity here. Leave. Get out of here. We are a peaceful community, we don't want this kind of place popping up in our neighbourhoods," he said.

Northumberland OPP said they made an arrest on March 10 in connection with a shooting investigation. As previously reported, during the early hours on March 7, a man was dropped off at a local hospital suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds, reported police.

There have been no subsequent updates by police since.

Police did not identify the accused or detail any charges laid in connection to their investigation.

As part of this investigation, on March 9, OPP noted an increased police presence in the Shearer Point Road area. However, police have said nothing else about their presence in the area that day. When pressed for additional information following the BCR and a potential connection to the investigation and this property, police declined to comment at press deadline.

Upon leaving the residence and walking back to Shearer Point Road, band members had another surprise for the inhabitants of the residence. A large sign, which had been loaded on a flatbed trailer, was placed along the entire width of the laneway.

The sign read: "Access denied by order of chief and council; illegal drug activity and violent crime will not be tolerated. Alderville First Nation."

In a statement, Mowat said while he can't say anything about the OPP investigation, the incident

of gun violence has heightened the need by band council to keep those who reside within Alderville First Nation safe.

"But now that it has (allegedly) involved guns, we are not being silent anymore. As the elected leaders of this First Nation is it our responsibility and duty to assure that our community is safe from illicit drug activity and violent crime brought in by interlopers and undesirables," said Mowat.

He went on to say Alderville First Nation would continue to consult with federal and provincial partners, as well as with the offices of the Chiefs of Ontario in order to build community policing efforts. At the end of the day, however, the community will assert its "inherent right to assure that the safety of our community is kept at the highest standard and that our people can live here peacefully and without fear.

"One way or another, we will not allow our community to be a victim."

These were the latest details available at press deadline.