Joey Payeur
Contrary to the comments of one band councillor, Couchiching First Nation Chief Chuck McPherson said nothing has been decided about the fate of the Rodrick and Telford Bruyere Ball Field there—or about the possible construction of a new school on its current site.
Couchiching Coun. Dave Bruyere, who heads the band’s recreation portfolio, said yesterday that the chief and a majority of council agreed earlier this month that the ball field be moved across and down the road from its present location to a sizable area adjacent to the Couchiching pow-wow grounds, which has been cleared of trees over the past few months.
In its place, Coun. Bruyere said a decision was made—one which he does not support—that the present site of the ball field would be the future home of a planned school to be built in the near future.
“The chief and the majority of the council want it,” said Coun. Bruyere.
“They didn’t come out and say that to the community, but it was agreed to at the time.
“There’s no need to build a school there,” he added. “There’s lots of available land on the reserve.
“If Couchiching wants a school, build it somewhere else,” argued Coun. Bruyere. “The ball diamond should remain where it’s at.”
Contacted later yesterday, Chief McPherson said “nothing is etched in stone yet” about future projects on the reserve though adding a new school isn’t out of the question.
“That’s a possibility,” Chief McPherson said about the chance of a school being built on the reserve.
“We’re getting core soil samples in different locations,” he noted. “We haven’t got the results back yet.
“But nothing is definite yet,” Chief McPherson stressed. “That’s still a decision the council has to make.”
Core soil testing was seen being done on the ball field last week, with those working there leaving stakes in the ground in various spots on the field, as well as reference numbers spray-painted in orange on some of the grassy portions.
Word of the possible movement of the ball diamond, which was relocated 20 years ago from the site of the current seniors’ centre on Couchiching, was first revealed on Facebook earlier this month by Couchiching resident Holly Bruyere-Cogger, whose uncle and cousin the ball field is named after.
An online petition against the relocation of the ball diamond and the building of the new school was started by Bruyere-Cogger on Oct. 11, with about 75 people signing in support before it was taken down Oct. 15.
Bruyere-Cogger also wrote a letter to the council.
“. . . I am totally and completely appalled at the lack of sensitivity that this chief and council holds for its people and the legacies left by our elders regarding the ball diamond,” she stated.
The letter went on to describe the alleged plan to build a school as “fiscally irresponsible,” and claims band members were not properly consulted about the matter.
Coun. Bruyere, meanwhile, believes any idea of going ahead with a school flies in the face of popular opinion, especially among a significant portion of the band’s elders.
“The older people who went to the residential schools are against that kind of segregation,” he stressed.
“My mother is 86 and went to a residential school. She wanted her kids to go to school uptown.
“I support my mother,” Coun. Bruyere said.
The band’s education manager, Joanne Bruyere, was unavailable for comment by press time.
Other projects rumoured for the area adjacent to the pow-wow grounds include a soccer field, an office complex, and a traditional roundhouse.
“We’ve cleared out the land in advance of something,” said Chief McPherson.
“But what it is, we don’t know yet.”
Coun. Bruyere said a smaller ball diamond geared toward youth would be a welcome addition to the collection of recreational facilities on the reserve.
But with band elections scheduled for February, he added much could change to any present council plans.
“If anything is going to materialize, it’s not going to happen until next spring,” he predicted.
“The big question for many heading into the election is whether or not that ball diamond is going to be moved,” Coun. Bruyere added.
“Those that watch ball at the field and the ballplayers themselves definitely don’t want to see it moved.”
Chief McPherson acknowledged the potential impact of the upcoming vote.
“An election could certainly alter anyone’s plans,” he agreed.
“I may go [into an election] with certain plans,” he remarked. “But if somebody else wins the election, those plans could go out the window.”
Should the ball diamond be moved, it’s uncertain if a new one would be ready in time for the Couchiching Raiders and Couchiching Lady Raiders to hit the field for the start of their respective fastball seasons in the spring.
