As of August 17, The Ardoch Algonquin First Nations and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations were given two working days to remove themselves (and anything they brought with them) from the protest site on Hwy #509.

This is the injunction that Frontenac has been pursuing, but as I understand it the injunction was not formally served…. Furthermore, on July 14 (before the injunction was issued), Chief Doreen Davis and Co-Chief Paula Sherman wrote an open letter to the Premier of Ontario (see the letter below), stating that both Nations will no longer participate “with the Court process as it relates …

I just received an update, courtesy of Chief Paula Sherman. Please note, in yesterdays update I had said Frontenac is suing for 1 million dollars—but it is in fact 77 million. Details are below.

ALGONQUINS PROTEST AGAINST URANIUM EXPLORATION WILL AFFECT TRAFFIC ON TRANSCANADA

Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation will be conducting a protest and information toll on Highway 7 in Perth on July 28th from 3pm-6pm to bring attention to the issue of uranium exploration and mining in North Frontenac County.

This will …

Algonquin Representatives and others opposed to Uranium mining in the Sharbot Lake area met this week with representatives from the mining company. Clearly, Frontenac was hoping to buy the Algonquins out, but financial offer was flat out rejected. A Letter sent out by Janie Jamieson puts it all into perspective…

“No amount of money can ever compensate them for the likelihood of death, cancer, mutated births, still births, sterilization and other health risks that will arise as a direct result of uranium mining.

The health risks are too great for our future generations. The environmental damage will be substantial …

This message comes from the Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment and Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice:

On June 20, 2007 the Gila River Indian Community Tribal Council voted unanimously 14-0 to reject signing the draft US EPA permit that would have allowed Romic to keep operating their hazardous waste facility on tribal lands. The vote by the tribal council means that by law the US EPA must deny the permit, although EPA is dragging its feet.

The Bad News and Why You Must Take Immediate Action: A giant …

Over the past year, Frontenac Ventures Corporation (and Mining Resource Engineering Limited MREL) has been appropriating Algonquin traditional lands near Ardoch, Ontario. According to a statement from the Algonquins of Ardoch lake, the plan is to develop the 60km to extract uranium from the land. As you may know, there’s currently a bit of uranium fever going around.

The land however has been appropriated without the authority of Ardoch Algonquin First Nation. Further, they were not at all consulted with respect to this plan to mine the land, and have …

By now you know of America's (lack of) response when Hurricane Katrina touched down, yes?

Well, after FEMA got in gear they ordered tens of thousands of trailers for those displaced by the Hurricane. They ended up not sending out all the trailers though (because of the rough environment, apparently) which in hindsight may have been a good decision, because reports are now coming in that people living in those trailers are getting sick…

The cause? Formaldehyde, which is used to make the particle board (floors and cabinets) in …

From 1964 to 1992 Texaco (now Chevron) built and operated oil exploration and production facilities in the northern region of the Ecuadorian Amazon, known as the “Oriente”.

When the oil company arrived in the region, an area of more than 400,000 hectares was pristine rainforest inhabited by indigenous communities living in the ancestral style, in harmony with their natural habitat. Nearly three decades later, when Texaco pulled out, a vast area had been environmentally devastated.

Today, dozens of communities continue to suffer severe health effects, including surging rates of cancer. Meanwhile, indigenous …

Romic “Environmental” Technologies Corporation, has for years been running a waste management facility at Gila River (O’odtham Land). Leasing land from the Tribal Council, Romic had been trying to obtain a full permit for 18 years, unsuccessfully.

Throughout this time, Romic developed for itself an extensive history of legal violations and repeatedly put people’s lives in danger—thanks no less to a disturbing ‘care-free’ attitude they held (which I must say , seems to be an industry standard. see above link).

Nevertheless, the Gila River Tribal Council proved yesterday that they …

Indigenous traditional owners and community members from areas the Government has proposed for new Nuclear Waste dump sites, have recently begun a National speaking tour to express their concerns over how these dump sites would cause irreversible damage to the land. Aswell, toinform people that the areas—which the government has assured are “some distance from any form of civilisation”—are in fact not uninhabited.

From the Canberra event poster:

1. Mt Evard - 40kms NW of Alice Springs.
3 km from the proposed dump site WerreTherre community runs several business enterprises, including mustering …

In the last couple generations, the neoliberal economic model—along with the very handy belief system it contains—has been bleeding into the lives and ways of Indigenous People in North America. Of course we see it happening in many places around the world, but nothing compared to the frequency and extent it is happening on this land; specifically among those who lead/govern/manage the people.

In many cases there is an immeasurable cost attached to doing business like this. Sometimes, a Tribal Council will alienate and banish people from the Nation; other times, …