Chief Donny Morris on the Meaning of No ca 2005

early draft of moratorium declaration

A NEW ALLIANCE DECLARES MORATORIUM ON MINING EXPLORATION AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FAR NORTH: NO MEANS NO.

A new alliance of Far North, communities has been formed to address the dangers posed by uncontrolled mining exploration and resource development on their traditional lands.

Increasingly mining giants like De Beers and Kennecott are pressing Far North communities for access to their traditional lands.

The provincial government has recently announced a $15 Million dollar Geoscience mapping initiative in the Far North and is currently holding public consultations on a new Mineral Development Strategy. All this adds up to more development pressures on Far North communities.

In response, the Nishnawbe Aski Nation hosted a meeting of Far North Communities in Thunder Bay on Wednesday, October 26, 2005. At this meeting, Chiefs and representatives from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Muskrat Dam, Sachigo, Wapakeka, and Wunnumin Lake joined in common cause to express their resolve on how to deal with the increasing pressures on their lands from mining companies and other resource developers. The alliance demands a moratorium on mining exploration and other resource developments on their traditional lands unless, and until, the communities are ready to lift the moratorium.

Donnie Morris, the Chief of Kitchenuhmaykoosib/Big Trout Lake said,"We have said it before and we will say it again. No exploration means No exploration. Which part of No doesn't the Ontario government understand?"

" This new alliance of Far North First Nations provides a clear direction to governments and mining companies like De Beers, Kennecott , Platinex and Superior Diamonds on this troublesome issue," concluded Muskrat Dam Chief Vernon Morris.

Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, who chaired the meeting, said "Ontario seems to have forgotten that in the Far North the communities and not policy makers and corporate executives in the towers of Toronto and Vancouver set the agenda. The moratorium is a wake up call for all those operating under the illusion that there is "free entry" to our traditional lands.


A steering committee was formed to continue the work of Wednesday's' meeting.

Contacts:

Chief Donnie Morris Kitchenuhmaykoosib/Big Trout Lake
Chief Brown Wapakeka
Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler
FULL TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION WHICH WAS PASSED PLUS A LIST OF
ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED FOLLOWS:

Whereas, we have the right to own, control and use the lands and territories, including the total environment of the lands, air, waters, animals, plants and other resources which we have traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used.;

Whereas, we affirm and assert our right to oppose any intrusion onto our lands, ecosystems, waters and natural resources which we own, occupy or use;

Whereas, have the inherent right to continue our own way of life. This right is recognized and affirmed by civilized nations in the United Nations Covenants on Human Rights;

Whereas, we affirm that the health of our ecosystems, waters and natural resources, their availability to our communities and the very future of the our communities are endangered by mining exploration and other forms of resource development;

THEREFORE we the undersigned resolve to affirm our unwavering support for a moratorium on mining exploration and other resource developments on our traditional lands unless, and until, we are ready to lift the moratorium, recognizing the inherent fundamental human rights of the our people and all Peoples to their own subsistence, cultures and way of life.

We strongly call on all the communities in the Far North to heed the alert of mining exploration impacts and the alarming changes on our lands which we are now seeing and join us in our moratorium.