These Caldwell First Nation members installed home security cameras. Now, they're being evicted

MaryAnne Kenney's father passed away when she was four, without ever knowing he was part of Caldwell First Nation. It was a journey to make the reserve her home.

But now, she is among the eight residents who are being evicted on Boxing Day for installing security cameras around their houses.

"This is our home. We have a right to be here, not to be kicked out by a reigning chief and council," she said.

A long history of colonization stripped Caldwell First Nation of its lands, which stretch from the mouth of the Detroit River to Long Point, along the northern shore of Lake Erie.

After petitioning the federal government and filing multiple formal land claim settlements, the First Nation finally received $105 million from a settled claim in 2011. It used the money to acquire 80 hectares of land in Leamington, Ont., which was officially designated a reserve in 2020, meaning members can have a permanent home on the ancestral lands.

MaryAnne Kenney holds the court document she and the other tenants have highlighting their grievances of being asked to take down the security cameras on their properties. (Pratyush Dayal/CBC)

Kenney moved into the reserve this year and her security camera went up on Sept. 9. Soon after, others followed.

The tenants being evicted told CBC they had verbal permission to install cameras.

Caldwell First Nation did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Kenney says other tenants complained about their cameras and, within a couple of days, they were issued a notice to remove the cameras on the grounds of "structural damage" from installation. The group spoke about the issue at a housing meeting but no resolution came through.

The group retained a lawyer to represent them and received a second notice, now citing concerns about privacy.

"We've never seen any complaints. We never heard anybody verbally complain to us about it. What are we supposed to believe?" another resident, Douglas Heil, asked.

The group said they sought permission from the project manager who told them "it's not going to hurt anything" to have the cameras.

"There's no paperwork to back anything up," said Heil.

He says while there are stipulations about satellite dishes, "it doesn't say anything about cameras."

Eventually, the residents were given an eviction notice, telling them to either remove the cameras or vacate on Dec. 26.

Personal safety paramount, residents say

Residents said there was a reported break-in in the community. That, and crime around Leamington, prompted them to install cameras.

Heil, a former councillor, said his insurance is much cheaper because he has security cameras. And both Kenney and Heil say the cameras don't pick up audio until a person is within five feet.

Another resident, John Snellgrove, says someone has been puncturing his household's blow-up snowglobe that now has holes in it and that he's seen other people peeking into windows.

"We're just trying to protect what's ours," he said. "We waited all these years to come home and they want to kick us out for our cameras."

WATCH | Hear from Caldwell residents facing eviction: 

The group said the discrepancy is baffling when there are cameras in the band office.

"I'm not leaving. We're going to fight, but through courts," Kenney said. She says she feels relief that a few other tenants have shown support.

"I feel a lot of anger. I feel sadness," she said. "There's a lot of anxiety.… Not what I expected, not at all."

'Not the Anishinaabe way'

Marie Duckworth and her daughter, Angela Duckworth, moved into the community around November and are neighbours.

They have six cameras in total to provide surveillance in the courtyard and parking area.

"I didn't feel comfortable moving here until I had cameras," she said. "When you look at our doors, the glass is frosted, so you can't see out. So, it's really for safety."

Angela says she was given permission to install cameras, and the cameras have since picked up people walking by imitating and mocking her mother.

Angela Duckworth is one of the roughly 60 people who are living on the reserve. (Jennifer La Grassa/CBC)

Angela's traditional name is Ba Masshi Migizi Kwe, which is Anishinaabemowin for Soaring Eagle Woman. She said she "moved to home after 26 years of being away".

"But this is not the Anishinaabe way. This is not how we treat our elders," she said. "To be able to be here and feel comfortable — I'm not there. I'm not there even with the security cameras."

Angela said the cameras give her an opportunity to ensure her mother's surroundings are safe and secure while she's at work.

Angela said she has a responsibility to their ancestors and future generations to fight back.

"We can't allow this to happen," she said. "We can't be bullied, because it is oppression."

There are 28 energy efficient duplexes and fourplexes on Caldwell First Nation. (Michael Charles Cole/CBC)