[Indigsol] FW: another conflict over uranium mining in ontario

[mattm-b at resist.ca]

FYI...
http://intercontinentalcry.org/another-uranium-conflict-brews-in-ontario/

(Secondly, here's the latest underreported struggles:
http://intercontinentalcry.org/underreported-struggles-for-april/
Sorry for not sending it sooner...)

Ahni


Another uranium conflict brews in Ontario


The Band Council of the Anishinabek at Serpent River issued the
following Press Release on April 30, warning of yet another uranium
conflict brewing in Ontario–that is to say, a conflict brought on
by Ontario’s refusal to accept their constitutional obligations
towards Indigenous Communities.

For more information, you can contact Chief Isadore Day,
Wiindawtegowinini, Serpent River First Nation, PO Box, 14, 48 Village
Road, Cutler, Ontario - P0P 1B0, Iday.srfn at ontera.net.


        SERPENT RIVER FIRST NATION PRESS RELEASE

April 30 - It has come to the point where Serpent River First Nation
leaders insist they want decisive action from the Ontario government on
a list of matters pertaining to development in their traditional
territory including the exploration of minerals, especially uranium.

Elected Chief of Serpent River First Nation, Isadore Day,
Wiindawtegowinini says he’s concerned that private sector proponents for
development are moving faster than government responses to consultation
requirements for First Nations. “It poses real challenges between
industry and First Nations when government moves slower in First Nation
negotiations than it does when pushing through proponent approvals for
expropriation of Crown lands” Day says. He goes on to say “what’s worse
is that Consultation and Accommodation requirements are not even in the
form of mutually agreed policy between the Crown and the First Nations,
and yet government is approving land expropriation in favor of
development in traditional lands”

Uranium exploration and potential development is a serious matter that
the community has recently established a strong formal position on. “We
have experienced <http://www.perc.ca/PEN/1990-11/sanger.html> a number
of tragic incidents with respect to uranium mining impacts in our
community’s history
<http://www.miningwatch.ca/index.php?/110/Elliot_Lake_Uranium>” says
Day, “and we are determined not to allow any of that damage to be
inflicted upon our people or our lands ever again.” The community
realizes that the short term gain and the economic benefit is suspect of
being “not worth the impact.”

Chief Day stated that he realizes that there will have to be discussions
regarding changes to the Ontario Mining Act but for now the community
has said that it is opposed to any uranium or any mineral exploration.
This position has been supported by a strongly worded band council
resolution carried by consensus in a community meeting to that effect.
He says that in recent weeks and months, the First Nation has been in
direct dialogue with the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and
Mines to begin discussions on how to work through a framework that
details the legal requirements of consultation in the exploration phase.
All other mining potential matters are considered non-starters at this
time for the Serpent River First Nation.

Directly in the Serpent River First Nation traditional territory there
is a list of other developments ranging from cottage lot development,
quarry projects, forestry, existing and proposed hydro projects and
other competing interests to access crown lands. Day says that the
Ontario government has been anticipating working with Serpent River
First Nation on consultation and accommodation with respect to some of
these projects but goes on to caution that, “all of these issues are not
the same. It will take a much more consistent effort by Ontario to reach
meaningful resolve on their duty to consult than what we have seen in
recent years since the Haida, Taku and Mikisew decisions. There’s a
province and nation-wide pressure-cooker type situation ready to implode
in First Nation-Government relations with regard to unresolved
traditional lands and treaty entitlement disputes, so I think most would
agree; its time for action!” Day says that at best, interim regulatory
changes might help but urges Ontario and Canada to get their act
together on legislative change that respects and legitimizes Anishnabek Law.

In his final comments, Chief Day said that “Anishnabek Leaders are now
becoming more adamant that the implementation of Treaties is going to be
the steam to get these issues to the next level.” Ending the discussion,
Day says that the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 requires a formal
approach based on collective rights and efforts by First Nation
communities. He calls on government and industry to a table where it
won’t be just one First Nation having to deal with issues alone; unity
among First Nations in the Robinson Huron Treaty is being considered
more than ever before.

For further information: Chief Isadore Day, Wiindawtegowinini, Serpent
River First Nation, PO Box, 14, 48 Village Road, Cutler, Ontario - P0P
1B0, Iday.srfn at ontera.net.



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