[IPSM] Aboriginal Leaders Face Jail Time for Uranium Protest

[Macdonald Stainsby]

Aboriginal Leaders Face Jail Time for Uranium Protest


For immediate release  -  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 were 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.

For more information please contact: 	

Robert Lovelace: (613) 532-2166
Chris Reid (lawyer) (416) 666-2914
Joan Kuyek, National co-ordinator
MiningWatch Canada
tel 613-569-3439
-- 
Macdonald Stainsby
Coordinator, http://oilsandstruth.org
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