Supporting the safe return of the land to Indigenous communities through proper documentation and review processes

Former Camp Ipperwash Clearance and Remediation Support

Along the shores of Lake Huron in Southwest Ontario, Stoney* Point was once home to the Stony* Point Indian Reserve. In 1942, the Government of Canada appropriated the reserve lands to create a military base, known as Camp Ipperwash, and relocated Stony Point First Nation members to the nearby Kettle Point First Nation. After decades of negotiation, the “Ipperwash Final Settlement Agreement between The Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada” was reached in 2016, outlining the process for safely returning the land to the Indigenous community.

Before land can be transferred back to the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation (CKSPFN), environmental remediation, unexploded explosive ordnance (UXO) clearance, and infrastructure removal must be completed. We have been providing technical expertise and project management support to the Canada Department of National Defence on this project since 2018. This includes reviewing technical reports and drafting reports documenting site closure. Various Stantec disciplines have also provided support on the project including environmental site assessment and remediation, risk assessment, hydrology, biology and natural sciences, archeology, Indigenous relations, website design, information management and geographical information systems (GIS) services, geomatics, remote sensing, and land surveys.

The site is unique in that it contains an abundance of plant and animal species, including several species at risk (SAR), as well as areas that are cultural significant and sacred to the CKSPFN. These factors, along with the presence of UXO, make clearance and remediation of the site more complicated, requiring close collaboration between all parties to find creative solutions to address the complex challenges that this site presents.

Through this collaborative and innovative approach, the project is progressing to allow for the timely clearance and remediation of the site and return of the land to the CKSPFN.

* Both "Stoney" and "Stony" are intentionally written in this context. “Stoney Point” refers to the current geographic location, while “Stony Point” denotes the former Indian Reserve and is also included in the official name of The Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.