Anishinabek Nation adds voice to growing concerns over Juno Beach condo project

The Anishinabek Nation Grand Council is the latest to voice its concerns over a proposed condo project steps away from the D-Day landing site at Juno Beach in France.

French developer Foncim plans to construct two condo buildings with a total of 66 units near the beach where Allied forces — including many Indigenous soldiers — landed on June 6, 1944 during the Second World War.

"It was our First Nations members who volunteered and some of them even gave up their First Nations rights in Canada to be a part of the military so that all could benefit from their actions," said Melvin Hardy, the Anishinabek Nation's Northern Superior regional deputy grand council chief and Chiefs Veterans Committee chair.

The Anishinabek Nation advocates for 39 First Nations across Ontario.

For the past two years, the developer has been engaged in a legal battle with the Juno Beach Centre, a privately operated Canadian museum about Canada's participation in the Second World War. However, a French court ruling in January granted Foncim the right to begin construction later this year.

The Anishinabek Nation Grand Council leader said they want to ensure the continued honouring of its veterans and care for the land where the historic battle occurred.

"We must consider the impacts this development will have on the fallen veterans, their families, and the shared historic significance this site has to both of our nations," said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe.

To date, the Royal Canadian Legion has also stated it's not in favour of the project and a group of Canadians called Save Juno Beach has been organizing a campaign to stop construction.

Earlier this month, Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay led a delegation to visit the Juno Beach Centre and met with French officials, vowing to do "everything possible" to resolve the dispute.

"We welcome the incredible outpouring of public support for the Juno Beach Centre — including that of the Anishinabek Nation — that the proposed condominium development has prompted," said a statement from Veterans Affairs Canada.

Over 3,000 First Nations members served during the Second World War, including many Anishinabek Nation citizens. In 2017, Hardy and other First Nations veterans travelled to France for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

During the trip, he said they stopped at Juno Beach and helped a citizen find the grave of a family member at the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. At least 33 Indigenous soldiers are buried there.

"When you go through and look at what the soldiers had to withstand … it's almost like you can hear it in the winds, for all the people that suffered there," said Hardy.