by Gabriel Caplett
Globally, grassroots movements are underway demanding companies obtain “free, prior and informed consent” from local communities before state approval of exploration and mining permits. The concept has proven to be a major threat to transnational mining companies that rely on government handouts of public land and access to private and indigenous land in order to operate.
Rather than obtain community consent and eliminate mine pollution in sensitive areas, the mining industry has responded with the Global Mining Initiative, originally introduced by Rio Tinto. The GMI entails a massive global public relations effort to frame mining operations as synonymous with sustainable development.
John Bray, research head at Control Risks, the world’s largest corporate risk consultant, advises his clients that maintaining “dialogue” with the opposition ensures that ‘you win…If you meet a group that will not compromise, then you have a problem.’
In neighboring Ontario, indigenous First Nations and non-native private property owners are disregarding industry rhetoric while waging a successful battle to prevent uranium exploration and mining on indigenous, public and private land.
Not a Class Act
The Ontario Mining Act enables companies to secretly stake claims, drill and operate a mine on public and private land, as well as territory claimed by indigenous First Nations. According to Mining Watch Canada, the “Act fails to recognize Aboriginal and Treaty rights and violates the established constitutional right of Indigenous peoples to consultation and accommodation prior to all government decisions that might affect their interests.”
Frontenac Ventures has been exploring for uranium on 30,000 acres of private land and land claimed by Algonquin First Nations, and has been vigorously opposed by the local indigenous and non-native population. Their opposition has created an embarrassingly high-profile situation for the Ontario government.
“I Must Follow Algonquin Law”
From June to October, 2007, members of a non-native coalition joined a peaceful protest organized by the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation and the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and prevented Frontenac from drilling near Sharbot Lake. Frontenac filed a $100 million lawsuit against the Algonquin nations and obtained court injunctions ordering protestors off the land. Some protestors were arrested, although only native participants were charged. Tribal leaders Paula Sherman and Bob Lovelace were fined and sentenced. Local citizens and First Nation members continue to occupy the land.
Lovelace said, “I do not want my children and grandchildren to have to go through what we are going through….I want to obey Canadian law, but Algonquin law instructs me that I must preserve Creation. I must follow Algonquin law.”
In a case similar to that of Bob Lovelace and Paula Sherman, in March, six leaders of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation, were sentenced to six months prison time. The “KI6” are opposing Platinex Inc.’s platinum project in northern Ontario.
Putting the Pressure on Parliament
Over 1,000 people gathered in front of Ontario’s parliament, in Toronto, May 26 and 27th, for the “Gathering of Mother Earth’s Protectors.”
According to Barb Bradley, a UP citizen and organizer against sulfide mining who attended the rally in Toronto, “It was a well-organized, multicultural, and peaceful rally. This event exemplified the power of ordinary citizens confronting large mining corporations and corrupt governments. Kennecott cannot mine without our permission, but we must speak louder…silence and negotiation can be misinterpreted as implied consent. If we make the issue hot enough, our government can’t ignore us any longer.”
Following the rally, the Ontario government dismissed charges against the KI6, sentencing them to time already-served. Bob Lovelace, who began a water only hunger strike in mid-May, was also freed days following the rally, although he may soon serve further prison time for additional contempt charges related to the protest.
“Leave It In The Ground”
Citizens and First Nations across Canada are becoming increasingly active as they fight to preserve their land rights. The governments of Nova Scotia and British Columbia have passed “moratoriums” on uranium mining and have demonstrated an unwillingness to approve unwise mine plans. Recently Northgate Mineral’s open-pit copper and gold mine plan was rejected by the British Columbia government over concerns that, “The economic and social benefits provided by the project, on balance, are outweighed by the risks of significant adverse environmental, social and cultural effects, some of which may not emerge until many years after operations cease.”
According to Mining Watch Canada’s Jamie Kneen, “The only thing that’s responsible to do with uranium is to leave it in the ground.”
LSMN
Eve Divine
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