This land is our land: This is our fight

Letter to the Editor by Machara MacNeil

The Oran - Nov. 4, 2025

Dear Editor,

"You're in politics for the people. Not only the people who voted for you, but the ones who didn't as well." - Russell MacLellan

What happens when we allow our government representatives to make choices that serve their own agendas – instead of making choices that are best for the communities they serve? Are our representatives representing us? Or are they representing themselves? Do we truly feel like our voices are being heard?

I have been living in Mabou for three years now as a Beinn Mhabu student, but Cape Breton has been my home for my entire life. I feel an intrinsic need to protect the land that I love. Therefore, I cannot in good faith, allow myself to be silent on the topic of West Mabou Beach

I believe home is something that we belong to, and that belongs to us. Home belongs to us not in the way our phones belong to us – as something to serve us, but in a way that our families and friends belong to us– something to love, cherish, and take care of. We simply cannot allow for our home to be taken from us and turned into something that's only purpose is to serve a small population of society.

When we destroy this beach and allow it to be turned into a golf course, we remove it from the hands of those it belongs to – the people. It then becomes land that can only be accessed by those with the means to pay for their green fees. instead of our beach, being a space for us, our children, our grandchildren, visitors, and wildlife to love and enjoy, it becomes a private clubhouse.

Our community has proved time and time again that we do not want this golf course and want our land to stay public and protected. Our governmental representatives have a duty to serve their communities – a duty they are not serving. They are not serving us. They are choosing to make choices that serve themselves and the upper echelon of society. We cannot allow our representatives to pick and choose when they represent us.

To quote Legal Info Nova Scotia, our governments representatives' jobs are: "Representing the needs, and concerns of their communities." Asa community, are our representatives representing us?

This is our land. This is our fight. We do not have to accept choices that are made without us.

Sincerely,

Machara MacNeil

Beinn Mhabu Student