First Nations Rally In A Gathering of Mother Earth's Protectors

A rally message to Dalton McGinty: First Nations have the right to say no to mining and clear-cut logging on their land.

With the smell of burning sweet grass and the sound of beating drums, over a thousand First Nations people from across Canada and Indigenous people from Peru, Chili, Australia and New Guinea, joined together yesterday for a peaceful rally on the grounds of Queen's Park in Toronto.

Backed by several environmental groups and Unions, the historic four-day gathering calls for antiquated mining laws to be changed, and for the immediate release of the detained Ardoch Algonquin First Nations leader Robert Lovelace, as well as the six First Nations leaders from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) known as the KI-6.

An Outdated Law

Passed in 1873, The Ontario Mining Act currently uses the free entry system which allows companies to stake claims on native and privately owned land throughout Ontario without permission because landowners only own surface rights.

The Mining Act also allows all exploration activities, including tree cutting, drilling, blasting, and construction of temporary roads and shelters, without any public consultation or environmental assessment. If an economically viable mineral deposit is found, there is no stopping the development of a mine.

Demanding Change

KI Chief Donny Morris, Deputy Chief Jack McKay, Head councillor Cecilia Begg, councillors Sam McKay and Darryl Sainnawap, and band employee Bruce Sakakeep, aka the KI-6, were convicted of contempt of court back in March and sentenced to six months in jail for opposing Platinum exploration by Platinex Inc. on their traditional land 600km north of Thunder Bay.

Now out on a Five-day pass, the KI-6 have to voluntarily go back to jail on May 29th if an on-going appeal is denied.

"This is not only an Indian issue. If you have property somewhere you are in the same boat as us." Chief Donny Morris explained.

Morris also said they have been seeking help from the United Nations but the Government of Canada and the province needs to approve a UN Representative visit.

"It's time for the province to start taking our issues seriously rather than trying to avoid it." Demanded Sam McKay

Ardoch Algonquin First Nation people and landowners in eastern Ontario have also suffered similar dilemmas because of antiquated mining laws. First Nations people, landowners and their supporters are demanding that these laws be changed.

Robert Lovelace, retired chief of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation is serving a six month sentence for opposing uranium exploration sought out by Frontenac Ventures Corporation near Sharbot Lake, just 60 kilometres north of Kingston, Ontario.

Lovelace, who is currently undergoing a hunger strike - recorded a speech from Napanee's Quinte Detention Centre.

"My imprisonment has been an ordeal but I accept it without complaint or remorse. I know that my imprisonment and that of my brothers and sisters stand as symbols of the oppression that all Aboriginal people in Canada have endured every day, most often in silence for hundreds of
years now. No Canadian should be sent to prison for peaceful resistance to the evil of colonialism and no Aboriginal person should be denied freedom."

Ardoch Algonquin First Nation Co-Chief Paula Sherman was fined $15,000 for her role in the opposition.

"We're not anti-development we're anti-irresponsible development." Sherman stated.

"Uranium mining can lead to contaminating the water-ways which flows to the Ottawa river down to the St. Lawrence."

According to Sherman there's forty years worth of uranium stock piles, and she wonders why we can't use that uranium for the existing nuclear facilities while we develop new ways of technologies like wind and solar power.

"If we were just putting in as much money into developing solar technology as we're putting into trying to expand the nuclear industry I think we would all be better off." She continued.

Chris Reid who is the Lawyer for the Ardoch Algonquins says that the basic problem here is that the law has to be changed.

"The law in Ontario now is very clear. You do not ever have the right to say no to mining or mineral exploration on your territory. If your a First Nations community with a land claim, it doesn't matter how strong that claim is, it doesn't matter if it sat on a bureaucrat's desk for
twenty years, a mining company starts exploring your land you've got three options; you can be quiet and do nothing, you can negotiate a deal that mitigates the impacts and gives you some of the benefits, or you can go to jail. You do not have the right now in Ontario to say no to mining and that's what this rally is about. This is the beginning of a broad coalition to build support for a demand that First Nations communities have the simple right to say no to mining on their land."
Reed said.

Walking Towards Hope

Accompanied by her husband, daughter and other native supporters, Chrissy Swain, of Grassy Narrows, an Anishnabe First Nation, made an incredible walk of over 1700KM from Kenora to Toronto in hopes to raise awareness of the ongoing logging that's going on in her community.

"This walk came out of frustration with the way all our people are being criminalized for trying to protect our land and our rights for future generations." Expressed Swain.

"Unity, all of us (First Nations People) have to stand together to be a bigger voice because we're standing for the same reason." She said.

The four-day event scheduled to end on May 29th - the National Day of Action, is expected to draw close to 3000 people.