Hunter’s Mountain Mi’kmaw camp burns to ground in suspicious fire
Article contentThe two main buildings at the Hunter’s Mountaincultural revitalization campburned downearly Saturday morning. There are no reports of anyinjuriesand it is believed noone was stayingin any of the buildingsovernight at the time of the fire.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentPresently,RCMPareseeking information aboutwhat they have calledsuspicious firesat the camp.Article contentArticle contentAccording to the police report, on December 13 at approximately 1:20 a.m., officers, fire services, and EHS responded to a report of astructurefire in the 1000 block of the Cabot Trail.When first responders arrived on scene, an unoccupied structure was fully engulfed in flames.Signs of a fire were observed in a second similar structure located approximately 100 feet away.Firefighterslocatedand extinguished the fire.Article contentArticle contentThe first structure was destroyed. The second hassignificant damage.Article contentInvestigators have contacted the Nova Scotia Office of the Fire Marshal for awareness and support.Article contentThe camp was built in early September in response to logging practices on the mountain by pulp and paper companies that the Mi’kmaw consider are harming the mountain’s ecology, traditional medicines, and sacred spiritual places.Therewereonlytwowoodenbuildings left standing at the sitewhile tents had gradually been removed as the old weather began.Article contentAt least one woman had planned to stay overnight forsecuritybutchanged her mind at the last minute due to some health concerns.Article contentArticle contentCAMP WAS BEING DISMANTLEDArticle contentArticle contentThe campwas in the process of beingdismantledandhavinglogs hauled away by the Snowmobile Association of Nova Scotia that was working with Victoria County and camp builders.Article contentArticle contentEarlier this month, according toasub-pageof the Nova Scotia Forest Matters group called Wabanaki Forest,the land defenders atTqamuoeye’katik(Hunter’s Mountain)made thedecision toclose upparts of campbutmaintaina minimal presence there until the thaw and renewed logging threats of late winter/early springbegan again.Article content“The Sacred Fire burned for83 dayson site and was put out in ceremony on December 2nd, with a firm commitment to return in spring,”thewebsite reported.Article contentPeople had driven to the camp Friday during the day to check itoutand all was well.Article contentAs sadness spread around the Indigenous communities at the newsof the fire, many on social media put out calls to “build bigger and build better”in the spring.Article contentTents and a couple oflogbuildings were built as housingduring the first month asa steady stream ofvisitorsand defenders from across the provincecametosupport the land defendersand protectors.Many elders,womenand children from all fiveUnama’kicommunititesspent time staying at the camp.