The Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) is raising alarm and calling for legislative reform following recent construction activity near a known ancestral burial site in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula.
In a statement released July 7, 2025, SON said a community member alerted the Nation’s Environment Office on the evening of July 3 after noticing a homeowner widening a driveway near a sensitive site where human remains were previously confirmed in the fall of 2023. SON staff visited the site that same evening, confirmed there was active ground disturbance, and immediately contacted both the municipality and the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO), requesting a Stop Work Order.
However, SON says it was told the next day by the Town of South Bruce Peninsula that the municipality "would not have authority to stop their work."
The Nation expressed frustration that, despite previous discoveries and repeated requests, the area in question has yet to be formally declared a burial site. Without that formal recognition by the province, there are no legal protections in place (such as mandatory monitoring or development buffers) that could have prevented this latest disturbance.
"This situation underscores the serious gaps in Ontario’s legislative framework when it comes to the protection of Indigenous cultural heritage and burial sites," the statement read. "Existing laws do not provide clear authority to Indigenous Nations or even municipalities to act swiftly in known high-sensitivity areas unless the site is formally registered."
SON says it acted quickly and decisively in response to the July 3 activity, but the incident has revealed systemic barriers that leave Indigenous Nations with limited legal tools to protect sacred spaces. The Nation says it continues to advocate for changes that would give Indigenous communities a stronger voice and more authority to safeguard ancestral resting places within their territories.
While no further work has been confirmed since the incident, SON says it remains in contact with relevant authorities, is reviewing legal and procedural options, and will continue to prioritize the issue until it is properly addressed.
"We understand and share the community’s frustration," the Nation stated. "Protecting the resting places of our ancestors is one of our most sacred responsibilities."