Image
Image Caption
Summary
This open letter is Apitipi Anicinapek Nation’s response to STLLR Gold Inc.’s PR messaging about the proposed Tower Gold Mine Project beside the Apitipi reserve near Timmins.
STLLR made online postings on and around January 13 of its photo op meetings with Ontario Ministers and some First Nation leaders, speaking as if the gold mine it proposes at Tower Gold, which is a mere five kilometres from the Apitipi Anicinapek Nation reserve, is on a clear path to development.
It is not.
The proposed mine is very close to the Apitipi reserve, is on a globally-distinctive esker that supplies pristine drinking water, is in an area of critical importance to Apitipi’s way of life where sacred, burial, ceremonial, harvesting and other sites and values are abundant. If Apitipi were to approve this mine it would require very significant accommodation, much of which might not be possible to provide.
How do you mine over a burial or sacred site and still protect it? How do you mine an esker and still keep its water clean enough to drink? How do you continue to hunt and fish in this critical area when moose will be driven away, and fish and other animals will disappear or die from mine impacts? How do you have a giant industrial operation next door and still expect people to live in peace and harmony with the land? Especially given the cumulative effects from many other mines, exploration projects, forestry, hydro dams and other industry in the region (some of which Apitipi has consented to, but there are environmental and human limits beyond which the load is too great to bear).
Most important, STLLR knows that its mine can only be constructed and operated with Apitipi’s consent. Apitipi has not provided that consent as of yet. Apitipi has repeatedly informed STLLR that there is a good chance such consent will never be provided for the reasons above. We have told this to STLLR in good faith so that it does not waste its shareholders’ money and raise false expectations. Apitipi continues to engage with STLLR nonetheless, as we committed to do, but STLLR bears all the risk that at the end, its mine project is headed for denial.
This is not the message that STLLR’s PR is portraying and in Apitipi’s view this is doing a significant disservice to the public, shareholders and investors, actual and potential. Pumping up the project, publicizing a meeting with Ministers Stephen Lecce and George Pirie to discuss “advancement of” the mine projects, inviting representatives from other First Nations who are not next door to the mine to be shown in published photos smiling and rubbing shoulders with STLLR, is questionable at best. To do so without also in bold letters making it clear that the one First Nation that legally must consent to the mine, has not done so and has stated there is a good chance it never will, is not questionable – it is wrong. It misrepresents the facts, plays First Nations off against each other, ignores requirements for consent, and induces trauma in Apitipi citizens who are concerned that something is happening behind closed doors to try to shut us out.
Apitipi has a Territory (well documented through evidence), referred to as nitakiminan, that covers the Abitibi Lakes and River watersheds and beyond. We have protected and connected to this Territory since the beginning of time. We governed it and relied on it for our lives, ways of life, economy, spirituality and everything we were and are. We are working to take back more control over this Territory that was taken from us by the Crown. We are part of a major court case asserting a right of jurisdiction over our lands (mutually with the Crown governments). We will not be silenced, ignored, run roughshod over. We also will not idly stand by as a disservice is done to our neighbouring municipalities, citizens and the Ontario public.
We pride ourselves in our many agreements and mutually respectful relationships with many companies, industries, and municipalities. We believe in partnerships and act as honest partners. Also, Apitipi is generally supportive of STLLR’s Hollinger Tailings Project in Timmins – unlike the Tower Gold Project, the Hollinger Project has the potential to create net benefits to the environment if done properly.
What STLLR is doing with its PR around the Tower Gold Mine Project is neither honest nor respectful, to us or to anyone. This is not the path to partnership, reconciliation or business survival.
Miigwetch,
Chief June Black, Apitipi Anicinapek Nation