Reuben Sokol
The Toronto Observer
May 28, 2010
Opponents of a proposed wind farm off the Scarborough Bluffs have adopted the old Bob Dylan folk classic, with their own spin, as a rallying cry: ‘the answer is not blowing in the wind.’
About 150 residents from the Guildwood area gathered Thursday evening to map out a strategy against the province’s plan to install wind turbines about two kilometres south of the bluffs, in Lake Ontario.
Under the banner of Toronto Wind Action, the group held a forum called ‘Finally the Truth About Turbines’ at Sir Wilfred Laurier Collegiate.
Lawrence Solomon, executive director at the Energy Probe Research Foundation, told the forum that contrary to the position of the United Nations, there is no threat of global warming from fossil fuels and therefore no need for wind energy.
“There is now no shortage of energy … There is limitless natural gas … and there will be no shortage of oil in our lifetime – most of the world is unexplored,” Solomon said. “Carbon dioxide is a natural part of our biosphere.”
Dr. Robert McMurtry, a professor or surgery at the University of Western Ontario, warned that new rules for locating wind projects should be drawn up and that large windmills should be kept a minimum of two kilometres from residential areas.
He pointed to anecdotal evidence of wind projects disrupting peoples’ health and sleeping patterns.
David Grey Eagle Sanford, a member of the Mohawk tribe who speaks for TWA, said that while evidence of wind power’s effects on human health was unclear, its effect on the health of animals was well known.
“I am a carrier of sacred eagle feathers,” Sanford said. “Hundreds of eagles are killed or disturbed by windmills.”
Sanford conceded that the eagle population has increased over the past 20 years in Ontario due to its protection as an endangered species, but to him every eagle is sacred.
“As one of my elders told me, ‘the eagle is the wind’,” Sanford said.
He then spoke of a dream told to him many years ago by his grandmother: “In the future, they are going to sell you the wind.”
Judy Lipp, the executive director of the Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC), which developed a 299 foot windmill in Toronto by Exhibition Place, spoke to the Toronto Observer before the TWA event.
TREC supports wind energy in Toronto. She said that concern over global climate change justified the need for sustainable energy sources such as wind power; there are no easy choices, she said.
“The impact of a large power plant is much bigger in terms of its footprint on the landscape and we can’t quickly return the land to its original state,” Lipp added.
She added that the large windmill in downtown Toronto, has not led to any complaints from local residents since it was built eight years ago.
“If you stand under it, you cannot hear anything except the Gardiner Expressway … In an urban environment, ambient noise far overshadows the noise that wind turbines make,” Lipp said.
Energy Probe 
Maison-Longue Akiawenrahk Yanonshietsi
Traditional Council of Wendake
Maison-Longue Akiawenrahk Yanonshietsi
C.P. 84, Territoire de Wendake G0A 4V0
Declaration of the Longhouse Council regarding the situation of Mr. David Sanford, aka « Grey Eagle ».
It has come to our attention that an individual named David Sanford is working with
different officials of the Wendake Kehen (Old Huronia) region, saying he represents the Wendat Nation and / or the community of Wendake, about subjects relating to the traditional lands of our people. That the said man has made and / or is working towards agreements that could cause prejudice not only to the Wendat people, but also to our friends and allies, Onkwehonwe and Anishnabe of the area that is now known as Ontario.
We, the Longhouse Council of Wendake, therefore declare: -That Mr. David Sanford, also known as « Grey Eagle », is not a member of the Wendat people. He is not of our nation, neither by blood nor adoption. He is not recognized by any law, wendat or canadian, as being of our Nation. We also doubt very much that he is Onkwehonwe (« native ») at all.
-That Mr. David Sanford has no right, authority, nor legitimacy whatsoever to speak in the
name of the Wendat people, or to endorse any proposition in the name of our people. Mr.
Sanford never received the mandate from the Wendat people, nor the Longhouse, to speak
in the name of our Nation. He never consulted the Wendat people nor the Longhouse
regarding the accord with the Town of Pickering or any other works he is doing in our
name.
Therefore, any accords, agreements, propositions or papers endorsed by Mr. Sanford in the name of the Wendat (Huron) Nation or as a « liaison » should be considered void, fraudulent, illegitimate and illegal.
We are of One Mind,
Accepted in Council, February 13th 2003,
Faithkeeper
C.c.: -David Sanford;
-Wellie Picard, Grand Chief, Band Council of Wendake;
-Steven Gronda, Grand Chief, Wyandot Band of Anderdon;
-Conseil des sages de la Bande de Wendake ;
-Arnie General, Confederacy chief, Ohsweken;
-Regional Councilor Maurice Brenner, Town of Pickering
-Barb Harris, 6 Nations of the Grand River
-Union of Ontario Indians
Kahentinetha has been informed about David Sanford “Grey Eagle”s claims of
being Mohawk and Bear Clan. She being a Mohawk Bear Clan Elder has stated that the Clan mothers want to see his DNA proof of his claims of being Mohawk bear
Clan along with his genealogical proof that he is one of their brothers. This of
course would have to come from the female side, which according to Sanford, his mother is Scottish. As they do not believe his claims of being Mohawk Bear Clan are truthful. They will need to see the requested proof before any support of his work is given by the Six Nations.