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KI Six is Canada's David and Goliath story
Colleen Simard
Colleen Simard
Updated: March 31 at 12:25 AM CDT
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Have you heard about the KI Six? It's a David and Goliath story if
there ever was one.
Kitchenuhmayboosib Inninuwug First Nation -- KI First Nation for short
-- in Northern Ontario has been battling with the Platinex mining
exploration company since 2005. But a few weeks ago the dispute reached
new heights, with the community's leadership getting thrown in jail.
On March 17, KI First Nation Chief Donny Morris, Deputy Chief Jack
MacKay and four band councillors were given six-month jail sentences
for ignoring a court order that gave Platinex the OK to begin drilling
on their traditional land.
Platinex, whose website says it's on a "quest for a greener planet,"
wants to dig for platinum on land KI First Nation has a valid claim to.
It seems the quest for a greener planet means stepping all over the
rights of aboriginal people.
The fight has been long and expensive.
Last fall, KI spokesman John Cutfeet told The Canadian Press he
believed the case was dragging through the courts as part of a tactic
used by the company and the Crown to bleed the community financially
dry. Eventually, KI could end up bankrupt, and no longer able to fight
off the mining exploration.
At the time the community had spent about $700,000 on the court battle.
The community isn't against economic development. They just want a say
in what happens to the land. Their rights to the resources were never
signed away with a treaty, and they want to be part of the success,
too.
The KI Six have gained support, both nationally and locally.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine visited the KI
Six over the Easter weekend. He also spoke with Ontario's Aboriginal
Affairs Minister Michael Bryant. But so far nobody has budged.
Roseau River First Nation Chief Terrance Nelson has also pledged
support to the KI Six, saying he's going to find out who owns shares in
the publicly owned company and call on them to criticize the jailing of
the aboriginal leaders.
Jailing the KI Six is outrageous, but we've got to look at the root
cause of this problem. These people aren't criminals; they're trying to
uphold their rights as First Nations people.
The problem is governments are stalling when it comes to settling
Canada's longstanding debts to aboriginal people.
And the KI Six aren't the only prisoners. All First Nations are
prisoners of poverty because we fail to allow their communities to
prosper by not recognizing their rights to their own resources.
Dudley George -- an Anishinabe activist -- paid the ultimate price for
standing up for his rights. He was shot and killed in 1995 while trying
to protect the territory of his people from Stony Point and Kettle
Point First Nation.
Ontario's Ipperwash Inquiry into George's death concluded last May,
with many recommendations that have not yet been put in place. I
thought I was watching history in the making when I watched the
televised speeches of George's brother and the presiding Judge Linden,
but it seems we've all gone back to sleep again.
Do the people of Stony Point and Kettle Point have their land back? Has
Caledonia been settled yet?
Canada has got to create a far speedier system to settle land claims,
instead of the current system that means a decades-long wait, as well
as a waste of money. Then these conflicts and frustrations won't
continue to happen.
Canada has a legal duty to consult with First Nations. The ignorance
has to stop. We've got to stop looking the other way, while progress
continues to leave aboriginal people in the shadows.
colleen.simard@gmail.com
