Darlene Gilbert, Mi’kmaw Grandmother, Photo by Peter Barss

Statement from Darlene Gilbert, Mi’kmaw Grandmother

We thank Darlene for her participation at the Save Owls Head Rally, providing this statement for the website, and for all of her efforts to protect the lands of Nova Scotia. Wela’lin.

Once you change the natural habitat for money, you cannot un-change the damage to Mother Earth. For our children, our grandchildren there must be something living, loving, and enjoyable for all people.

[Owls Head is] a privatized sale, even though this is unceded, unsurrendered lands… Miꞌkmaꞌki.

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Letter from Dr. Karen Beazley

Dr. Karen Beazley
Dalhousie Institute for Resource and Environmental Studies

Honourable Stephen McNeil, Premier,

Please do not sell public land. NS has very little public land. It should not be sold to or for private interests. The Nova Scotia Nature Trust and the Nature Conservancy of Canada are working hard to purchase and secure ecologically significant lands in NS, with substantial (several millions of dollars of) funding being provided by both private and public individuals and organizations in support of their efforts. They are focusing on connected ecological systems along the eastern shore and elsewhere to complement Provincial conservation efforts. There is strong public support of their efforts, providing solid evidence of public economic and ethical valuation of public and private land conservation in NS.

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