[Indigsol] To Kingston we go!

[Angela Schleihauf]

Hey everyone,

Rosemary (an OCAMU member) is kindly offering to drive people to Kingston
tomorrow. She leaves at 7am. Chief Paula Sherman will be showing a video and
giving a talk tomorrow night out in Frontenac, which Rosemary may attend.
This means returning to Ottawa would be around 11:30pm at the latest.
(I'm taking care of a couple of dogs, so I may hope a bus and return to
Ottawa sooner than that) If you'd like to come along please call
613-730-1406 (my temp. number, no time is too late to call) or Rosemary at
613-237-477. There's room for two or three more people.

Grand,
Angela

1) SENTENCING FOR CONTEMPT: FRI. FEB.15, 9:30 A.M. KINGSTON COURT

Kwey kwey all

Today was another very difficult day in court. To those of you who were able
to be there, chi miigwetch.  On Friday, Judge Cunningham will be passing
sentence. Jail time in the order of a week for each day in breach of
injunction has been asked for by Neil Smitheman, lawyer for Frontenac
Ventures.

Please consider supporting Paula Sherman and Bob Lovelace tomorrow in court
by being present. It has been a source of strength and courage.
Thank you
mireille
________________________________________________________________________

2) ARDOCH ALGONQUIN FIRST NATION PRESS RELEASE: Aboriginal Leaders Face Jail
Time for Uranium Protest

February 14, 2008

Two leaders of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation will appear in a Kingston
court tomorrow morning to learn whether they will be jailed for refusing to
comply with an injunction which prohibits them from blocking a uranium
mining company which has plans to explore land which is claimed by the
Algonquins as theirs.

The blockade began in June, 2007 when the Algonquins discovered that
Frontenac Ventures Corporation had begun removing trees and blasting rock in
preparation for an aggressive program of exploration for uranium near
Sharbot Lake, located in eastern Ontario's Ottawa valley.  The company has
hopes of seeing an open pit uranium mine on the site.  The First Nation had
not been consulted, or even notified, before Frontenac began the destruction
of their territory, with the approval of the Ontario government.

Chief Paula Sherman and former Chief Robert Lovelace awere held in contempt
of court this week for their refusal to obey the injunction against their
community's protest.  Lawyers for Frontenac Ventures have asked Justice
Cunningham of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to impose lengthy jail
terms and stiff fines.  In addition they asked the court to prohibit the
Algonquins from pursuing legal action challenging the constitutional
validity of Ontario's Mining Act which does not require consultation with
First Nations before mineral exploration proceeds.

Chief Sherman, said "It's sad that it has come to this.  The government of
Ontario has refused to consult with our community about uranium exploration
on our land, despite several Supreme Court decisions which clearly say that
governments must consult us before approving industrial activities on our
land.  The failure of the province to respect Aboriginal rights protected
under the Constitution has led to this mess."

Robert Lovelace added: "None of us wants to go to jail or pay punitive
fines, and I will miss my children terribly if I am incarcerated, but we are
bound by Algonquin law which prohibits uranium mining and exploration in our
territory.  I cannot obey the injunction."

Last month leaders of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation in
northern Ontario were found in contempt of court in a similar case involving
mineral exploration on land claimed by First Nations.  They will be
sentenced in April.
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