First Nations will fight uranium mining

Ruth Levi

President, Mawiw Council
June 24, 2008
The Mi’kmaq and Maliseet First Nations in New Brunswick are experiencing growing frustration with the approach of industry and government toward achieving development and self-sufficiency in the province.
The First Peoples are being conspicuously ignored, and their rights flagrantly violated and infringed, as result of this new-drive to modernize and expand. Industry pays lip service to aboriginal concerns and hopes to be left alone by First Nations in exchange for a modest donation.
While I do not wish to stereotype all industrial players as acting in such a cavalier fashion, the majority do. Some refuse to address First Nation concerns at all.

Meanwhile, the wealth of generations is being pumped out, dug up, paved over and redesigned without so much as a thank you to the peoples who first occupied these territories.

Of particular concern to the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet peoples is the new scourge of uranium mining.

If uranium mining takes place it will take place in our backyards, near our farms and villages, close to our rivers.

The First Nations will not allow their natural heritage to be poisoned by this ill-conceived effort.

Does anyone believe that the First Nations would meekly stand by and allow others to destroy our bond with the land when we, ourselves, are prohibited from doing so by the very nature of our ancient title? Uranium mining is clearly the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet “line in the sand.”

We will do whatever else is necessary to prevent this harmful exploitation.

June 24, 2008
Categories: Uranium . . Author: cuttheclearcut

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Uranium’s impact irrefutable Nouvelles règlementations sur l’uranium insuffisantes : le gouvernement devrait interdire l’uranium et réviser la loi vétuste sur les mines du Nouveau-Brunswick