Mother stands by jailed councilor
* Community
James Thom - Wawatay News
The corners of Sadie McKay's mouth perk up when she talks about her son.
He was a born leader and a smart man who'd never been in trouble with
the law – until now.
Sadie's son Jack has been sitting in a jail cell for the past month,
serving a six-month sentence for contempt of court.
Sadie McKay
Sadie McKay
And Sadie couldn't be prouder of her son, the deputy chief of
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug.
"I'm very proud of the stance my son and the others took in defending
our land," Sadie said through an interpreter. "I know it's for the
people and for the protection of the land."
KI Chief Donny Morris, Jack McKay, Head Coun. Cecilia Begg, councillors
Sam McKay and Darryl Sainnawap and band member Bruce Sakakeep were all
jailed for their actions in preventing Platinex Inc., a junior mining
company based in southern Ontario, from exploratory drilling on the
First Nation's traditional lands.
They were sentenced to jail, amid public outcry, March 17, several
months after Justice Patrick Smith had OK'd the drilling.
Sadie said she will stand alongside other community members and defend
the land, should Platinex attempt to drill.
Jack McKay
Jack McKay
"While Jack was in our community, he told us when Platinex was coming,"
Sadie said. "At that point, we knew their actions and went to
(protest). I stood alongside my son at those protests. I will do the
same, especially now, knowing that Jack is in jail. It is up to us, the
remaining people, to defend our land."
The jailing of the KI 6 has unified the community, Sadie said.
"The jailing of our leaders had a temporary impact in the community,"
she said. "It disrupted our community as the people reacted to the
loss. But we've recovered and realigned ourselves. KI has come back and
we're protecting ourselves."
