Algonquins of Barriere Lake Fight Copper Mine

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake, Quebec have once again voiced their objection to copper mining in their area.

According to a statement released through Mining Watch Canada, the First Nations community objects to the continued efforts of the junior mining company Copper One to develop their Rivière Doré property on unceded Algonquin territory. 

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake are calling upon Copper One and other companies with claims in their territory to cease activities on their projects and allow the claims to lapse. In addition to Copper One, the companies with claims in the Trilateral Agreement area include Cenit, Mundiregina, Forest Gate Energy, Mines Virginia and the Quebec government-owned corporation SOQUEM. Barriere Lake are insisting that their traditional territory be withdrawn from staking by the Quebec government – as the Ontario Government removed much of the territory of Oji-Cree community Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug in March 2012.

The area in question sits about three hours north of Ottawa, half way between Mont Laurier and the town of Val d’Or, Quebec.

Over the phone, Barriere Lake spokesperson Norm Matchewan explains the potential environmental and social impact mining in the area. He says Copper One’s use of the area could directly impact about fifteen families who regularly use the area for hunting fishing and trapping.

“There are a lot of people that continue to use that land and continue to teach their kids how to survive off this land,” he says. “We depend on it.”

He also believes that mining could have a negative impact of the already low sturgeon population. Water pollution could have consequences well beyond the community because the river connects to the Ottawa River.

In 1991 the band signed a trilateral agreement with the Quebec and Canadian governments that was meant to ensure sustainable development of the forest industry in the area. It did not, however, cover mining. The band has been mired in disagreements with the federal government ever since.

According to Barriere Lake Solidarity, in 2010 the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs removed the band’s traditionally elected leadership. They replaced it with a council that many in the community do not recognize. It is the imposed council, rather than the community itself, which has been negotiating with the mining company.

Last summer protestors in Montreal tried to deliver a letter on behalf of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake in opposition to logging in nearby areas.

This is not the first time this community has dealt with mining companies. They ran into a similar situation with the previous mining rights holder.  

“What Cartier Resources said was that they had no idea that there was a first nation community nearby that would be impacted,” Matchewan remembers. “They said they got their permits from Quebec and that's when they started doing their exploration work. There was no consultation. They had workers out on the land without the community's knowledge.”

In a rare victory for the Barriere Lake community, Cartier Resources suspended their exploration work on their Rivière Doré project in the area in response to the community’s objections.

Matchewan attributes part of that victory to the workers Cartier initially sent who were Cree First Nations from James Bay.

“They understood what we were talking about—the environment for the future generations and the profound teachings of the areas that were in question,” he recalls. “They understood and they packed up and left the next day.”

The government of Quebec then suspended that company’s 1,052 mineral claims in territory for a period of two years. The suspension will expire this year on July 3.

According to Matchewan, Copper One claimed no knowledge of the previous dispute. They also purchased the mining rights from the Quebec government. This time, he is less willing to give the company the benefit of the doubt.

“I can't trust what they're saying because it's the natural resources they want,” he says. “It's hard to trust what they really know.”

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake’s renewed objections to Copper One come in the wake of protests in Greece against the Canadian mining company Eldorado Gold. Minister of International Cooperation Julian Fantino also recently promoted the role of private mining companies in international development. His speech prompted calls for more ethical mining practises abroad.

As with the mine in Greece, the Barriere Lake community stands to make none of the profit from the use of their land for mining. 

Currently, the Copper One website indicates the company’s positive outlook for its Rivière Doré property.  

Though claims are currently suspended on this property, Copper One is actively engaging with local First Nations communities and an exploration program will move forward once discussions have been positively concluded with these communities.

Matchewan, on the other hand, is unequivocal about the community’s objections. “It's going to be a long battle,” he says.

Image Credit: Mike Barber via Flickr

Image Credit: Thien V via Flicker