Across the land there are hundreds and thousands of voices speaking about the irresponsible and exploitative conduct of Band Councils, and the Canadian Government. It’s unfortunate, but many of these voices seem to be drowned out by the empty promises of better days, and by flimsy government assurances that everything’s alright.

As discussed in the letter below, in this one example, it occurs while the integrity of a Nation and the land that sustains it is twisted, hollowed out and sold on the stock market.

Dear Honourable Members and Respected Chiefs

My name is Sim git Luu t’aa, …

Here is a recent article by Chief John French of the Takla First Nation, discussing the problems with mining and business conduct in British Columbia.

From thetyee.ca - The Tse Keh Nay leadership is compelled to add its voice to the recent hoopla surrounding the B.C. mining sector’s claims of glory, such as those made by Michael McPhie in his recent editorial in the Vancouver Sun and those recently made in this publication.

From our perspective, far too many First Nations in this province have very little to celebrate when it comes to mining.

The irony is not lost on us …

Gold, Skin and Bones: Goldcorp’s adventure in Honduras - by Dawn Paley, March 1, 2007

“We’ve been here for seven years,” explains Pedro Rodolfo Arteaga, gesturing at a scattering of plain houses lining a dirt road “and we never thought we would find ourselves in this situation.” A resident of Palo Ralo, in the Siria Valley in central Honduras, Arteaga explains that “the old village was inside the perimeter of where the company wanted to put their machinery, and we were obstacles for them.”

Palo Ralo is a village constructed in 1999 …

The following article, written by Gwalgen Geordie Dent, was published on May 14 at the Dominion

Canada in the Congo War
Role of mining, resource extraction has been neglected

Even for those who follow world events, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is little known in Canada.

The DRC holds two major distinctions. First, it is the richest country in Africa in terms of mineral wealth: gold, diamonds, cobalt and chromium all exist in abundance. Second, it is the country in which the highest number of people – roughly, 4 to10 million …

There’s been alot going on lately with regard to Land Claims issues, actions among Six Nations, and matters related to the June 29th National Day of Protest.

I’m short on time at the moment, but want to post an overview of what’s been going on:

Railways and June 29th

It seems AFN’s Phil Fontaine has pretty much had a change of heart, finally realizing that taking beaurocratic routing to address indigenous Issues is a complete waste of time. It’s still unfortunate that he keeps talking about money, and suggests that ‘we just want what Canada already has…’ There are some that think …

The following press release was received from Wasase.org.

A CALL FOR ACTION FROM THE INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ALLIANCE
(Victoria, BC) - May 14, 2007
We are united strongly in our love for our people and for the land. We are of one mind in our belief that we have an obligation to the land, which is ours and will always be. The British Columbia Treaty Process is a dead-end for our Nations. For years we have tried to achieve justice for our peoples through the BC Treaty Process. It is time to walk away from this process as there is no …

From Canada Press - Miners are stunned and environmentalists cheering over a northern regulator’s recommendation that a uranium exploration project be denied because it threatens the spiritual and cultural well-being of the area’s Dene people.

The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board says Ur-Energy’s (TSX:URE) plan to drill up to 20 holes near the Thelon River should not proceed under any circumstances. Read the report (pdf)

“Although the proposed development is physically small, the potential cultural impacts are not,” says the board in a written decision.

It is only the second time in the board’s history that it has dismissed a …

Form the Daily News, May 3 - An alliance of Coastal First Nations have thrown their support behind Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla and are calling on the federal government to resume its discussions with the Coast Tsimshian on the Prince Rupert Port expansion.

“We fully support the Coast Tsimshian on this issue,” said Art Sterritt. executive director of the Coastal First Nations. “There is no question of the existence of the rights and interests of all the Coastal First Nations and particularly those people closest to the project. The Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla First Nations have been reasonable in their …

FOE Media Release - Peter Munk, Chair of Barrick Gold Admits Liability for The Desecration Of Lake Cowal Sacred Site, Australia

At today’s Barrick Gold AGM held at the Convention Centre in Toronto, Neville ‘Chappy’ Williams, traditional owner of Lake Cowal and Western Shoshone delegates from Nevada successfully questioned the Barrick Gold Board of Directors during the live webcast.

Shareholders were amazed and concerned the interveners had traveled so far to raise their objections Peter Munk tried to explain why Barrick Gold shares continued their ‘disappointing’ decline in value whilst the mining industry is “drowning in liquidity” as …

Recently,. the Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams Nations, known as the Coast Tsimshian People, announced they will be taking steps to stop a port in Prince Rupert from being completed.

From the Northern View - “There has been a build up of frustration that has been building up for close to a year now. When the port put us on notice that they were starting on phase II, we decided enough was enough. The government, which has the legal obligation to consult and deal with First Nations, has ignored us …