Our mission is to work collaboratively with all interested and invested parties to ensure the Hoople Creek / Hoople Bay Fishery remains healthy, well managed and available to all stakeholders for recreational purposes.
- Presentation to General Stakeholders – September 3rd, 2021
- Presentation to South Nation Conservation Authority ‘Fish and Wildlife’ Committee – September 7th, 2021
- Reconstruction of Fence/Gate along Highway 401
- Level of Support from Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
- Legal Incorporation – Help Needed from Membership
- Website Construction
Presentation to General Stakeholders – Sep 3rd
A Zoom presentation was made to a much wider group of potential partners and stakeholders and this was coordinated with the help of Ms. Lisa Van De Ligt of the Raison River Conservation Authority. Lisa acted as the moderator for the meeting with the following people representing their respective agencies:
- Matt Mulvehill – Ontario Power Generation.
- Abraham Francis – Akwesasne Environmental Services.
- Michelle Caveneau – South Nation Conservation Authority.
- Brendan Jacobs – Raison River Conservation Authority.
- Scott Gagnon – Ontario Power Generation.
- John Sanna – Ontario Power Generation.
- Kim MacDonald – South Stormont Township.
- Colin Lake – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
- Mark Kaddie – Cornwall Lunker Fishing Club.
- Jana Lantry – New York State Conservation Region Six.
- Michael Yuille – Ministry of Natural Resources.
- John Sliter – Interim President of Friends of Hoople Creek.
- Carey Runions – Director of Friends of Hoople Creek.
- Lisa Van De Ligt – Raison River Conservation Authority.
This was viewed as a great opportunity for some general discussion around some of the key issues dealing with the Hoople Creek Fishery. This presentation went reasonably well with some discussion and questions but a few questions could not be answered by John Sliter and consequently, a subsequent presentation will be set up involving Chris Bunt of Biotactic. Chris will be able to explain some of the scientific issues associated with counting the spawning Walleye.
Presentation to South Nation Conservation Authority ‘Fish and Wildlife’ Committee – Sep 7th
John Sliter also presented to the South Nation Fish and Wildlife Committee Meeting on September 7th, 2021. This presentation was well received and while Hoople Creek / Bay are out of the jurisdiction of the South Nation Conservation Authority, they were very supportive of our efforts.
Reconstruction of Fence/Gate Along Highway 401 Ingleside Ramp
We wrote to the Ministry of Transportation complaining of an illegal entrance / exit off of the 401 in which a road/path was constructed to allow people to drive right to the spawning beds and harvest fish. They promised to rebuild the gate and fence and ensure there was no illegal access to the site. Furthermore, they promised to advise us when the work was complete.
Level of Support from Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
We heard back from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and both the letter to them and their response can be seen here:
Letter of Friends of Hoople Creek dated August 17, 2021 – https://1drv.ms/b/s!Agjzck0Py7BXgb0GpMKqlUVJeRP63Q?e=Zgd4wt
Letter of Grand Chief Abram Benedict dated September 17, 2021 – https://1drv.ms/b/s!Agjzck0Py7BXgb1Picq6ORskdHJJCg?e=hkcE9D
In short, while “The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne appreciates the Friends of Hoople Creek efforts and your desire to protect the creek. Unfortunately, the Mohawk Council is not in a position to condemn members of Akwesasne exercising our Aboriginal and Treaty Right”. While this may be disappointing to some of our members, efforts will continue to keep the Mohawk Council aware of our efforts and continue to try and work with them to revitalize this fishery.
Legal Incorporation – Help Needed from Membership
We could use some assistance from our Regular Membership with regard to recommending/identifying a legal person to assist in the incorporation of our society as a not-for-profit Environmental Activist corporation. We are prepared to pay for the service and are basically seeking someone within our membership to help steward the process through a legal entity. Please send any suggestions to hooplecreek@cogeco.ca.
Website Construction
Jillian Sliter is a Graphic Artist working in the Barrie, Ontario area and she has volunteered her time to create an official website for our ‘Friends of Hoople Creek’ group. If any group members have any constructive ideas on this they should send them in to hooplecreek@cogeco.ca.
Finally, we will strive to keep you posted on a regular basis as our efforts continue to raise awareness of the plight of the Hoople Creek fishery. Please share this newsletter as you see fit and encourage all of your friends and family with a concern for Hoople Creek to join us!
Friends of Hoople Creek 
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