Several First Nations groups are expressing concern after news ancestral remains were discovered beneath a site under excavation for a parking lot located adjacent to Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) new headquarters building in Oshawa, Ont.
The Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation stated in a recent post on X the proposed parking lot at 1910 Colonel Sam Dr. is being excavated over a historic site, known as the Scugog Carrying Place.
The First Nations state OPG’s contractors discovered the ancestral remains after excavations and soil piling.
“The ancestral remains were found within large, excavated soil piles. OPG has specific requirements under the Ontario Heritage Act, including the requirement to have and maintain a Cultural Heritage Identification and Evaluation policy and related procedures. This document must be publicly available,” the post reads.
“We have asked for this information but have not received it. We have not found any public records for this required documentation.”
In a statement to the Daily Commercial News, OPG said: “On July 3, a bone fragment was discovered during archeological work at OPG’s parking lot extension project…Authorities were notified immediately and Indigenous representatives, who had been participating in the archeological work, ensured appropriate cultural protocols were observed.
“Durham Regional Police Services conducted an initial criminal forensic investigation and they, along with the coroner, assessed the fragment as ancestral since it had been buried for a prolonged period.”
The property in question has been the subject of books, articles and cultural heritage studies and there is commemorative plaque for the Scugog Carrying Place, the First Nations note, that was installed 10 years ago by the City of Oshawa.
“It is with deep frustration and upset that we note contractors undertook these excavations and soil piling, seemingly without the information of an archeological assessment, or guidance from a cultural heritage policy, in an area publicly well-known as the Scugog Carrying Place,” the post claims.
“This burial site has been desecrated, and our communities are grieving. We believe there is a high probability that additional ancestors’ remains will be found at this site.”
OPG, however, says construction activities for the new parking lot had been on pause since April 10 to undertake the archeological work.
“OPG recognizes the significance and sensitivity of this finding,” the statement notes. “We are committed to working closely with the local Indigenous communities and authorities to ensure a thorough and culturally respectful investigation. Access to the site is strictly controlled, and we are treating the area with the utmost care, sensitivity, and reverence. We will know more information once a full investigation is complete.”
The First Nations communities are now engaging with the chief coroner along with provincial and federal authorities to ensure a “lawful and culturally respectful investigation into the circumstances of the excavation.”
“Accordingly, we will be working with OPG to ensure that proper protocols are put in place to protect our cultural heritage, across not just the Scugog Carrying Place, but across other sites,” the post adds.
