Monday, 22 Aug 2011
It is reported that one of the largest Innu communities in Quebec in eastern Canada is embroiled in a row with an iron ore mining company.
The company, Cap Ex Ventures, is exploring for iron ore in an area known as the Labradar Trough, a rich seam of minerals that stretches for hundreds of miles along the provincial border between Quebec and Labrador, the heart of Innu territory.
The long history of mining in this area has already taken a huge toll on the rich hunting grounds, with many of the rivers dammed for hydro power to feed the smelters needed to turn the ore into iron and steel. A railway was built into the region in the 1950s to transport the ore.
One of the largest Innu communities that uses this area for hunting, gathering and trapping is the Innu band known as Uashat mak Mani Utenam (also known as Sept Iles). They do not want Cap Ex Ventures to enter their hunting grounds until the company has formally committed to allow full environmental monitoring of their operations, but the company has gone ahead anyway.
Mr Armand MacKenzie, a spokesman for the Innu, said that "We expressed serious environmental, social and cultural concerns to the company: they’re showing a disrespectful attitude. We are open to constructive dialogue, but any exploration activity or mining activity on our lands, that affects our natural resources, needs our consent, that' a fundamental principle."
In a statement, Cap Ex Ventures said that "The company remains committed to discussions with the Innu of Sept Iles. The Company will continue to inform the Innu of Sept Iles of its activities."
(sourced SurvivalInternational)
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