THUNDER BAY, ON, March 17 /CNW/ – Anishinabek Nation leadership are
demonstrating their support for a Treaty 9 community whose chief was prepared
to go to jail for refusing to allow a mining company to conduct exploration
activity on traditional territory.
Deputy Grand Chief Glen Hare represented the 42 member communities of the
Anishinabek Nation at the Ontario Superior Court building today where
Judge Patrick Smith sentenced Chief Donny Morris of Kitchenuhmaykoosib
Inninuwug and six council members to six months in prison for contempt of
court. The councillors of the fly-in First Nation about 600 km north of
Thunder Bay defied an Oct. 25 court order granting Platinex Inc. access to
Big Trout Lake, which the First Nation claim as ancestral land.
“In one breath we hear Ontario talk about the importance of First Nations
sharing in the wealth of the province’s resource revenues, and in the next
breath they ignore Supreme Court of Canada rulings that say we need to be
consulted by companies wanting to exploit our lands,” said Deputy Grand Chief
Hare. “Meaningful consultation involves mutual respect, not telling
First Nations where you’re going to drill for ore or clear-cut forests. That’s
not how good neighbours behave.”
Despite several recent Supreme Court rulings requiring consultations with
First Nations prior to making decisions affecting their lands, the Ontario
government has allowed the Toronto-based junior mining company to stake claims
and begin exploratory drilling for platinum. When First Nation members
peacefully protested their activities, Platinex retaliated with a $10-billion
lawsuit, subsequently reduced to $10 million.
Details here: http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2008/03/first-nation-says-canadian-officials.html
Turtle Talk 