Protesters surround machinery to protect Winnipeg's Parker Lands

A group of protesters gathered at the Parker Lands inWinnipeg Friday in an effort to halt the removal of trees and destruction of what they call an important environmental wetland area.

The groupsurroundeda shredding machine that had been at work since Thursday, turning timber into toothpicks.

"We're standing in front of the machines and making sure they're not moving," saidprotester JennaVandal.

"The construction company came and told us we were on private land, and we said we're actually on Native land so we're not moving. He left and got the police to come, and the police told us they're just worried for our safety and left after that."

Vandal, a Mtis woman, is considering setting up an occupation of the site, bringing out tents and lighting a sacred fire. She'sless worried about being removed by the police thanabout justwatching the forest be destroyed.

'It should be criminal'

Vandal has signed numerous petitions, written to politicians at all levels of government, and used social media to make as many people as possible aware of the issue.

"I feel I've done what I can do and there's nothing left but direct action. And sometimes that's the only way to get things done," she said.

I feel I've done what I can do and there's nothing left but direct action. And sometimes that's the only way to get things done.- JennaVandal

A group called the Parker Wetlands Conservation Committeehas been lobbying government to set aside the Parker Lands south of Taylor Avenue and just west of the JubileePembinainterchange as an ecological reserve for about three years.

"There is so much room elsewhere for development. Wedon'thave to develop these natural spaces that provide us with some green, and to have them destroyed," said PWCCspokesman Cal Dueck.

"It should be criminal."'

• Protesters call on government to save Winnipeg's Parker Lands from development
• 'They are irreplaceable': Winnipeg's Parker Lands trees shredded for rapid transit line

Earlier this year, many of the trees were shredded as part of the next phase of the city's rapid transit bus route.

The piece of land being targeted by protesters on Friday is privately owned by Gem Equities, which acquired it in a controversial land swap with the city.

Gem has been removing the trees ahead of expected development along the new transit route. However, the company owned by developerAndrewMarquesshas not yet submitted a plan to the city.

CBC has contacted Gem Equities for comment.

• City of Winnipeg wants back land it had swapped away
• Winnipeg land swap approved
• Developer planned for thousands of housing units on Parker Land

In just two weeks, the PWCC has received1,500 signatures on a petition opposed to the destruction of the area, according to Dueck.

"The remaining 42 acres of forest and wetland is slated to be sacrificed to a housing development. 'Developing'this area would exacerbate the already profound threats to our watershed," the petition states, while listingthe flora and fauna that will be impacted by the loss of their natural habitat.

Much of the flora and fauna on the property is no longer found elsewhere in Winnipeg.- Cal Dueck

"The Parker wetlands and aspen forest is home to myriad wild creatures including whitetail deer, foxes, frogs and toads, a great horned owl, a family of Cooper's hawk, swallowtail butterflies, milkweed, yellow lady-slippers, the mysterious bottle gentian, and big bluestem (as well as vestiges of both mixed-grass and tallgrass prairie ecosystems), to name only a fraction of the population," the petition says.

"In March the tracks of a short-tailed weasel were spotted, and recently a Canada warbler and a whip-poor-will, both classified in Manitoba as threatened under the Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act, were observed."

Call for conservation area

Dueck is calling on thecity and the province to "save this heritage forest" by issuing an immediate stop-work order until the land can be purchased or expropriated from Marquess.

Dueck is also urging Marquess tooffer the land to the cityor province"at a reasonable price"so it can be held as a conservation area.

"Much of the flora and fauna on the property is no longer found elsewhere in Winnipeg," he said, noting that in 2000, the area was designated as an ecologically sensitive natural heritage area.

• Rapid transit route could destroy sensitive area

But at some point during the administration of previous mayor Sam Katz, the area was re-designated as a major redevelopment area, Dueck said.

In addition to the plants and animals in the area, the land is an important part of Indigenous history, said Vandal.

"Rooster Town, a Mtis settlement destroyed in 1960, was situated right next to theParkerwetlands," she said. "Structures, arrowheads and bison-skinning tools have been found in this urban forest.

"I will fight to defend this land that cared for my Indigenous ancestors, both Mtis and First Nations."

The protesters say they will remain at the site until Friday evening.