concede some of our points on condition that they damn our allies as
Reds and bunny huggers from Toronto.
Mining environmentally friendly.What a joke.Put these words in google and see for yourself. Kam Kotia. Ok Tedi. Omai. Marcopper.Porgera. Jabiluka. Baia Borsa.Rapu-Rapu.Aznalcóllar.
Closer to home. Lingman Lake.Dona Lake.Golden Patricia.The list is long.
Drive through the environmental paradise of Pickle Lake some time.Never mind Sudbury.
Heck even the old Renabie Mine in PDAC VP Chief Nolan's territory was never cleaned up and closed out properly.
And what about all those jobs for First Nations. On an exploration project spending 2 million, I see about 14 First Nation jobs for 30 days in the best case scenario. Most of the "churn", as they say in stock market world, will end up in the hands of a few brokers and company directors.
On a mine of the scale of Victor in Attawpiskat I see 400 jobs of which maybe 50 will go to the local First Nation.
Did the Musselwhite mine ever hit its First Nation employment targets? If not, why not?
Let's face it most of the investment, employment and profit in mining doesn't stay in the north and certainly it doesn't find its way to First Nations. I'll take forestry.At least the trees sometimes grow back.
Average life of mine.12 years.So a community has 12 years to create a trust fund to finance economic development in future and they better pray that the tailings dam doesn't break and kill all their fish or the company doesn't go broke and can't reclaim the mess they leave.
Hey Joe, where are the office towers and back rooms where they make the
decisions about what happens in Northern Ontario? Toronto.
OK, I get it, you like decisions made by "powerful" people from Toronto
like investors and Cabinet ministers but you don't like First Nations
making alliances with non-aboriginal folks to challenge those decisions.
Mr. Quesnel supports the First Nation right to say no (but only to certain
activities). He recognizes the need for exploration permitting. He thinks KI made a bad decision, but he respects the right to decide. But he is worried when a coalition or political alliance is formed that could actually create the political pressure needed to make the changes he seems to support. Better to keep those First Nations and their issues marginalized in the bush, eh Joe. Out of sight and out of mind. Creator forbid that a struggle for freedom raises universal issues and gets some media coverage that engages a wide group of interests in the larger society.
So time for some good old McCarthyism.
As the KI leadership once said, some of our best friends are lefty, tree hugging, feminist, latte sipping Torontonians.
http://winnipegsun.com/News/Columnists/Quesnel_Joseph/2008/04/19/
5328611.html
By Joseph Quesnel
Provincial governments need to protect the rights of First Nation
communities to assess development opportunities on their own
traditional territories, even if means they are allowed to ultimately
say no to certain activities. However, it is sad that leftist groups
with an anti-development agenda are already piggy backing on this
important issue to the detriment of First Nations who need development.
This is the lesson of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First
Nation in Northern Ontario.
Six leaders from this indigenous community (dubbed the "KI 6") near
Thunder Bay were jailed on contempt of court charges for refusing to
allow a mining company to drill on their traditional territory. These
leaders are frustrated that although there are requirements that they
be consulted, this does not include a right to say no to development
activities, if they decide. Courts in Ontario have ruled that resource
companies must engage in meaningful consultation with First Nation
communities prior to development. They have also decided that the Crown
must establish protocols to ensure First Nations are consulted before
permits are issued to companies.
This issue, therefore, pits the important values of economic
development against the rights of First Nations to decide what is best
for their communities.
The problem is KI First Nation had established a consultation protocol.
It was a six-stage process allowing for community input at every step.
It involved meeting with community leaders and band members affected by
the development. Finally, the process ended with a community
referendum.
The problem is that the system of "free entry" grants companies the
right to free exploration without permits. Thus, First Nations cannot
ultimately reject development projects. What needs to happen is for
legislators to change this system to recognize court rulings on
accommodating First Nations. This may mean that sometimes First Nations
can overrule certain projects. In the case of KI First Nation, I
strongly disagree with the community. I support mining activity and I
believe that this development will greatly benefit community members.
It is also possible to deal with environmental issues. However, this
should be up to KI members themselves to decide. So, I stand firmly
with the KI 6, even while supporting the mining activity.
Like them, I was born and raised in Northern Ontario. The forest and
mining industries created the communities that dot its landscape. But,
we have had our share of urban environmentalists and socialists who try
to manipulate our development concerns. Some are legitimate
conservation groups, but many are "deep ecology" advocates who have
never left Toronto but love preaching to people who actually live off
the land.
In most instances, development is very positive and accommodates
environmental concerns. However, there are environmentalist
organizations who believe that no development is ever good and value
wildlife over humans and their communities.
So, while I praise First Nations for their courage in standing up for
their traditional rights, I caution them against allying with leftist
and environmentalist groups that do not have their best interests in
mind and oppose any development, even if would benefit First Nations.
This is an issue for First Nations alone to decide.
jquesn2@yahoo.com
