KI protesting Platinex incursion on their land again

Submitted by Judy Rebick on Mon, 08/24/2009 - 6:50pm
On the left are Sam McKay and Chief Donny Morris at last Spring's rally for KI and Ardoch at Queen's Park
 The courageous people of  Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwugis (KI)  are out on the land in peaceful protest once again against mining on their lands  without their permission.  Despite promises from the province last Spring when the KI Chief and Council went to jail for just such a protest, mobilizing support from around the province and across the country, letters to Premier McGuinty sent unanswered.  Today they issued a press statement, excerpts appear below
 
 
"(Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug – August 24, 2009)    Mr. James Trusler, President and CEO of Platinex mines sent a letter to Chief Donny Morris of KI advising them that Platinex will be going back into Nemeigusabins Lake (mining site) near Big Trout Lake on Tuesday, August 25, 2009.

"Chief Donny Morris responded by sending a letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty pressing him for a meeting to talk about the Platinex situation.  Chief Morris said, “The province has not called one meeting on this controversy since last year.”  He said, “This is a bad sign.”

 "Chief Donny Morris and his people will be out at Nemeigusabins Lake on August 25, 2009.  Chief Morris said, “We will engage in peaceful demonstration out at the proposed mining site.”
In September 2008, KI made a submission to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Early Warning and Urgent Action regarding the fact that Ontario is not recognizing the Aboriginal and Treaty Rights of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug and that the Chief and Council were sentenced to 6 months in jail for standing up for their rights and stopping mining exploration in their area.
 
The Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug situation was under consideration by the United Nations CERD, Working Group on Early Warning and Urgent Action in February 2009.  CERD sent a letter to Canada in March 2009 asking questions about Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug and requesting these questions be answered by July 31, 2009.  Canada did officially respond to the United Nations.
 
Chief Donny Morris has reviewed Canada’s response and has issued his own letter to CERD and requesting that mining activities in his territory be stopped until the whole issue of Aboriginal and Title is dealt with.  Chief Morris said, “If you cannot get justice at home, you need to go international.”
 

 

 

 

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