# Beading is Advocacy: Reflections of Water, Environmental, Community and Indigenous Protection and Rights in the Era of Bill C-5 Author: Caitlyn Murphy-Eagleson, Ziibiikwans Bkejwanong, otherwise known as Walpole Island First Nations is my home, an island and indigenous reservation along the St. Clair river in Ontario. In Ojibwe, ‘bkejwanong’ means ‘where the rivers divide.” The indigenous community of Bkejwanong is a mixture of Ojibwe, Potawatomi & Oneida and the relationship to the surrounding waters is culturally, emotionally, physically and spiritually essential. Daily interactions include ceremony, recreation, hunting, and nourishment. Most notably, the island is unceded, meaning that Bkejwanong never signed a Treaty with the provincial or federal government of Canada and holds authority over the land under Aboriginal Title. Growing up, I didn’t understand the environmental harm that my community was facing. Instead, as a kid I lived blissfully unaware; swimming to the bottom of Roger's Dock and scooping up a fistful of dark clay to join the other kids in the clay fight, watch curiously as my Dad put toothpaste in his goggles before diving underwater to spear fish at the Rocks or sprinting to the beach when someone yelled “Back Wash!,” which meant that a freighter ship was going to pull in the tide and then push out a giant wave that would sweep us in a fun, exhilarating and terrifying rollercoaster. There wasn't a defining moment that illuminated the environmentally racist reality I was in, but like all things, there are instances when its clarity is as sharp as a knife. Bill C-5, “One Canadian Economy Act’ was passed June 26, 2025 under Carney’s democratic political party with the aim to improve the Canadian economy and develop stronger capital independence. However, Indigenous-led protests were concerned that fast-tracked projects would create environmental damage, bypass Indigenous consultation, and violate constitutional rights that threaten Indigenous land and sovereignty. In my community’s case, a proposed landfill waste site was purchased in Dresden, Ontario in 2022 with a focus on demolition, construction and soil waste. With the provincial Environmental Assessment Act the developers, York1 Environmental Waste Solutions were required to do a complete environmental assessment prior to development. However, with the pass of Bill-C5 and under Doug Ford’s provincial leadership the environmental assessment was waived for York1 Environmental Waste Solutions. This is a major environmental and political issue because the area is already contaminated and the landfill may further pollute the water, contaminate food produced by local farms, create chemical wastewater, and harm nearby species at risk. Upstream in the St. Clair river from Bkejwanong is ‘Chemical Valley,’ which is a dense industrial area that houses more than 60 chemical and oil refinery plants. Mercury, toxic pollution and chemical spills have contaminated Walpole's water since the 1800s because of the ongoing pollutants from the petrochemical industries. Currently, the International Joint Commission appointed by the Canadian and United States governments, assesses and reports on the ‘Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.’ This agreement covers Bkejwanong and Dresden, Ontario region. Currently, the areas of concern for the ‘Great Lakes Water Agreement’ have three areas that are in the red and impaired: the fishing and wildlife consumption, degradation of benthos, and loss of fish and wildlife habitat. With this delicate environmental state and the potential of York1 Landfill to further cause damage, The Chief of Bkejwanong, Leela Thomas, demanded the following from the Canadian government, York1 and Chatham-Kent municipality: Uphold Section 35 and UNDRIP Articles 25 & 29 by halting the project. Impose an immediate moratorium on the Dresden landfill proposal. Reject Ontario Bill 5 and condemn its breach of constitutional rights. Launch a Federal Environmental Assessment due to transboundary water risks. Enforce setbacks under the Renewable Energy Act and Landfills Act. Trigger a Comprehensive Federal Fisheries Impact Assessment for the Sydenham River. In response, Indigenous Services Canada stated that they have a legal duty to consult and hear Indigenous voices in Canada related to decisions that affect their land, water and communities. The Chatham-kent municipal government has representatives such as Rhonda Jubenville who are against the York1 Landfill and are allies to Bkejwanong. Audaciously, on November 14, 2025, York1 responded by serving the Municipality of Chatham-Kent with a court challenge with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. They allege that the property they purchased for the landfill site does not require any zoning or plan approval from the Municipal Council. Chatham-Kent municipality responded that they disagree and require multiple approvals. York1 rescinded their court application September 24, 2026. As for York1’s consultation with Bkejwanong, they met once with Chief Leela Thomas and the band in 2025 and in her own words, “The message they gave to us is that they don’t have to consult with First Nations because the government said they didn’t have to, because they were buying a property that had existing permits (Chatham Voice, July 2026).” This situation is the exact fear that led the national protests against Bill-C5’s expedited process. Protesting has not stopped though, on a local level, groups such as Dresden CARED (Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal) are coordinating knowledge mobilization efforts, awareness campaigns and ongoing environmental protection protests. Presently, it’s a waiting period as the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks reviews the Environmental Compliance Approval application from York1 to ensure it’s complete and then make it available for a 45-day public comment period where I will share my voice and advocate that others do as well. Even though I am not living at home right now, I have family, friends and a community I still deeply care about and want to protect and support. With Clear Seas, I was able to donate $2000 to the Bkejwanong Eco-Keepers program for a tree planting initiative and craft my very first medallion. A beaded medallion is an important cultural craft that is worn in ceremony and is made with mino mishiki (good medicine) with unique characteristics and meaning depending on context, nation and community. For me, beading my first medallion was a lengthy journey that filled me with cultural pride, gave me a much-needed connection to home, tested my patience, and humbled me as I learned from others who were kind enough to share their time and skills – shout out to the Aunty Collective Art Nights and Molly Long for teaching me how to bead a lanyard! Sometimes environmental protection work isn’t just jumping in head first; it’s as simple as listening. I am listening, and I acknowledge the stand that Chief Leela Thomas is taking to demand environmental protection, indigenous sovereignty and safety for Bkejwanong and the wider community. She is a strong kwe (woman) and her voice is important as we all continue to navigate the complexity of modern pollution challenges, intergovernmental policies and indigenous cultural reconciliation. I encourage folks to continue to listen to Indigenous voices and communities across the nation regarding our relationship with the waters around us. Learn more Dresden CAREDDefend DresdenWalpole Island First NationAunty Collective About the author Caitlyn Murphy-Eagleson (Ziibiikwans) is Ojibwe and a member of Walpole Island First Nations (Bkejwanong). Ziibiikwans is an independent artist whose work was supported by the Clear Seas Indigenous Internship Program.