Indigenous Peoples Unite to Oppose Destructive Mining Practices across North America

In the wake of the U.S. Congress’ passage of the Bush Administration’s highly controversial energy bill on Thursday [July 29], Indigenous Peoples from across the United States and Canada completed the first North American Indigenous Peoples Mining Summit in the traditional territory of the Cree Nation (Edmonton, Alberta CA). The summit was organized for Indigenous representatives and organizations from across Great Turtle Island (what is now referred to as the United States and Canada) to share information, strengthen networks, and develop strategies to combat destructive mining operations in their territories.

“As Indigenous Peoples, we have a responsibility to speak up on the issues that impact those things that are sacred – the air, the land, the water and all life. Governments and industries, are placing money above life – that is totally crazy. This madness is not just affecting us here – but it affects all peoples and all life around the world,” stated Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone grandmother.

Wrapping up their three-day summit, conference attendees passed a resolution vowing to work together to support each other’s efforts to stop destructive mining operations harming their symbiotic relationship with the earth, including the air, water and homelands connected to their cultures and spirituality.

The Summit also concluded by agreeing to begin strategic planning to address immediate situations, including:
· The proposed Northern Dynasty Mining corporation Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska affecting the Southwestern Alaska Indigenous Peoples,
· The Placer Dome/Kennecott Cortez mining activities at Mount Tenabo/Horse Canyon in Nevada affecting the Western Shoshone people,
· The Northgate Minerals Kemess North Mine Project in British Columbia affecting the Carrier, Sekani, Gitxsan, and Dunne-za peoples,
· The Redfern proposed Tulsequah Chief Mine in Taku River in British Columbia affecting the Tlingit peoples,
· The Peabody Coal Company Black Mesa operation affecting the Navajo and Hopi peoples, and
· The continuing legacy of the nuclear fuel cycle adversely impacting indigenous nations.

“The passage of the U.S. Energy Bill represents a massive escalation of the ecological genocide for Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island. It is critically important that Indigenous Peoples share information about the environmental and cultural impacts that these mines and other industries have on our communities and on the natural world that we all live and share,” said Robert Shimek, the Indigenous Environmental Network Mining Coordinator and one of the conference coordinators. “We know these mines have devastated our communities. We need to know what the impacts are and what options we have to stop them.”

Robert Shimek, Indigenous Environmental Network
(218) 760-0284

RESOLUTION: Indigenous Peoples Caucus Western Mining Action Network
Cree Territory (Edmonton, Alberta Canada) – July 30, 2005

Whereas, the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Western Mining Action Network was formed to strengthen our alliances and inherent responsibilities to protect Mother Earth from the destructive impacts of irresponsible mining, in particular uranium, hard rock and coal mining. The caucus is composed of representatives from across the northern region of Turtle Island (Canada and the United States). Together, our voices are united as one to advocate for the health, safety and welfare of our communities to the decision makers in governments and industry.

Whereas, the North American Indigenous Peoples Mining Summit was convened in the traditional territory of the Cree Nation (Edmonton, Alberta CA) July 27 – July 30, 2005 to bring Indigenous Peoples together to share our traditional knowledge and understanding of western science as its relates to our individual community and collective concerns on mining practices, and;

Whereas, these Indigenous representatives from across Turtle Island registered numerous concerns on the hazardous impacts of irresponsible mining on the health, welfare and safety of our peoples, our communities, our lands and spiritual and cultural resources, and;

Whereas, there have been numerous violations of our inherent and human rights as Indigenous Peoples as given to us by the Creator both by the mining industry and governmental sectors, and;

Whereas, in order to protect these rights of all Indigenous Peoples and to safeguard against any future harms that threaten our physical and spiritual survival through the protection of Mother Earth and our natural world;

Therefore, be it resolved, we, as Indigenous representatives and organizations, hereby unite to discuss spiritual, cultural, social and environmental concerns that will not only directly impact Indigenous Peoples but impact the sustainability of all life and all peoples, globally and

Be it further resolved that, we as Indigenous representatives and organizations hereby unite to develop strategies and initiate immediate changes to educate and inform communities, the corporate world and government officials of the Indigenous worldview and that those harms caused by irresponsible mining affect the water, the air, the land and the overall sustainability of our earth and all life and these harms must be addressed and corrected immediately.

SIGNED BY: