>Homeless woman fined for building her own home>The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has charged Necan with breaches of the Public Lands Act that carry fines of up to $10,000, and up to an additional $1,000 fine each time she is caught continuing to build. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/homeless-woman-fined-for-building-her-own-home-1.2824688As an unorganized township, Savant Lake doesn't have a municipal leader. Denis Mousseau owns the only store, across the street from his hotel, on one of the community's two main roads.
"It's a common thing for First Nations people to do, is build their own house without title to the land," Mousseau said. "First Nations people have the right to do that and I don't see why [the Ministry of] Natural Resources should be hassling her over this."
Necan has boarded up the unfinished doorway to her cabin for the winter, and said she feels "shattered" by the charges against her. Her next court date is Nov. 20.
"I still keep going with this fight no matter how awful it makes me feel for trying to house myself and help people, because a lot of people don't believe in themselves or that things can change if you fight hard enough," Necan said, her voice cracking.
"It's what I try to believe. I try to be hopeful. That's hard too and a lot of times I cry by myself here. But I talk to my [late] mom and my [late] dad and it keeps me going because I keep thinking of them."