To: Town of Fort Erie

First Nations people's first and foremost, but everybody as a whole are affected by these out of date by-laws.

Toronto & Niagara Falls are just a few of the Cities that allow backyard hens.

Native culture is very big on food protection & security. Along with food sustainability.

The price of food is skyrocketing, not to mention all the additives in store bought items, that may or may not be good for you.

anti biotics, hormones, steroids, preservatives, nitrates, sulfites, GMO's, and the list goes on...

My partner and 2 young daughters are sovereign Indigenous band members to Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations. You may have heard of them as you are on the ancestral & territorial lands of the Mississaugas, along with other nations in the Haudenosaunee confederacy, you may know them as the Iroquois, or 6 nations.

My partner recently had a heart attack, (May 2025).
I for the last 10 years have been producing hundreds of kidney stones. We are both diabetic, I am insulin dependent. Other than that we have a lust for life, and wellbeing.

We are aware the Town of Fort Erie has discussed backyard chickens a few times in the past, and have struck it down each time. The  reasons being pests they bring, smell, and disease. We understand this but this petition is to at least give us a chance to show otherwise. That we can keep these worries at bay. Like others in this Town do. We know of at least 5 others who keep chickens in the Town of Fort Erie with no problems. One as long as 5 years now. They have no problems because they have good neighbors that do not go out of their way to create problems, or make invalid complaints.

And noise, hens do not make much noise at all. We had a neighbor call spca in June about the noise of our chickens. Spca Officer Mauric came out and said she doesn't hear them at all. And was not concerned with their health or wellbeing. And that my set up looked great. The funny point in this is the proof that hens at 8 weeks old, which they were back when I got them June 26th 2025, and that complaint was made, was impossible for them to hear any noise, as they only made very soft and quiet tweets, that you could not hear from 6 feet away. The chickens are now almost 4 months old and still making not too much sounds at all. It was not a valid complaint at all. It was made by someone with anger issues, and some type of objection towards us, to try and get at us only. He screams out of his window at us all the time, while we do not bother anyone.

If one were to derail the pests, which are already present in the Town, lots of rats. I have lived here 5 years and only had chickens these last couple months, but have seen many a rat running out of my neighbor's yards with no chickens around. I had set traps for the 5 years I have lived here, and only caught lots of pack rats. I still set the traps anyways to be ahead of the game.
I also clean the coop out every other week, to keep the smell down and disease. I also throw lime down to control the forementioned.

My partner and children were given 8 chickens, the coop, feed, and gift cards to Minor Brothers. They were given to them from their Nation, The Mississaugas of the Credit.
They were given to them for health benefits, food security & protection, along with food sustainability and the many teachings that can go along with raising animals.
We feel Fort Erie should get with the times now on this matter, and for everyone in the Town, not just First Nations peoples for these reasons mentioned above.

All First Nations people in Canada, no matter local should have the right to keep and raise a food source.
I do not understand how this is even an issue in this day and age, especially with the Indigenous Reconciliation going on. Or even with how many people in Canada need extra help with food each month.

We are hoping you are willing to work with us on this matter. And invoke the by law or rules that need to be put in place, with having backyard chickens for family oriented egg production, that is non commercial.

There are many grandfather teachings in respecting and raising animals that are very good for my daughters to learn through raising chickens.

Real life lessons, structure and disciplined routine.

We already love raising chickens and we do not get eggs from them for another month still.

We do not expect roosters to be allowed to be kept, we are understanding that others may not like hearing them crow, in the early morning. Even tho I believe Fort Erie's noise ordinance is between 11pm & 7am, or unreasonable noise or noise that is likely to disturb it's inhabitants. I do understand it is prolonged animal noises as well.

We would appreciate if we were allowed no more then 10 hens, or whatever you are willing to allow really. We appreciate that it should be the Town's recommendation for this amount.

We hope you can move forward quickly on this matter, that everyone should be allowed to raise backyard chickens for a food source.
But at the same time if you do not see this, we hope you understand that you should not stand in the way of Indigenous rights in Canada, especially in these reconciliation times. That wouldn't be a great position to take, or a good look on the Town, respectfully in our opinion.

It will also help teach my children wisdom, love, respect, humility, routine, and responsibility.

It will give stability, and sustainability along with the food protection many need right now, as we have the highest numbers ever attending food banks

I would like to thank your personally and kindly, for giving this matter an opportunity to be heard and managed justly. I hope you can appreciate and take to heart that this can bring a healthier lifestyle to Fort Erie's residents.

Created by Shayne Marrelli and Amber LaForme

Plus as many other signatures I could obtain in a short time.

Thank You!