underreported struggles 73

More essential underreported struggles from Ahni at Intercontinental Cry. 

underreported struggles 73

The USDA Cibola National Forest Service (CNFS) issued a controversial Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to Roca Honda Resources (RHR), for a proposed uranium mine on Mount Taylor, a stratovolcano in northwest New Mexico. The DEIS openly states that uranium mining at Mt. Taylor–which is held sacred by several Southwest Nations including Dine’, Hopi, Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni– “…would result in the disruption, alteration, and displacement of traditional cultural activities that are critical to the continuity of cultural beliefs and practices of these tribes."

Esquimalt First Nation, in an effort to reform the monetary system, unveiled a new barter currency on their territory known as Tetlas. Similar to a gift certificate, the Tetla was developed by the organization Tetla Tsetsuwatil to assist economic development in the S’amuna’ Nation and other native nations, and to encourage trade with non-natives and among non-natives. So far, 35 businesses have signed on to the Tetla system, but wit the constant problems first Nations have with the Canadian economy, you can be sure there will be more.

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights issued provisional measures to ensure that the Ogiek people of the Mau forest cannot be evicted by the Kenyan government, while the matter continues before the court. The Ogiek case is the first indigenous rights case to come before the court since it began in 2006 and sets a strong precedent against the eviction of Indigenous Peoples from their lands across continental Africa.

The O’odham Nation is taking action to officially oppose Kinder Morgan’s proposed Sierrita Pipeline, a project that could harm up to 60 “sacred and significant” cultural resource sites, village sites, trash mounds and quarries, according to a resolution approved by the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council. The pipeline would also harm Baboquivari Peak, an area central to the O’odham Peoples creation story.

An anti-indian conference was held at the Lakeway Inn in Bellingham, WA about ten miles from the Lummi Nation. The April 6th event, which went by almost completely unnoticed, was dedicated to teaching people how to fight casino gambling, water rights, fee to trust, land acquisitions and sovereignty. The event was sponsored by Citizens Equal Rights Alliance or CERA, one of the most prominent Anti-Indian organizations in the United States. Three additional conferences are now being organized by CERA in Massachusetts, New York and Northern California as part of a new national offensive to end tribal sovereignty.

In northern Chile, Environmental groups and indigenous Diaguita communities celebrated a court decision to suspend the controversial Pascua Lama mine owned by the world’s largest gold mining company, Barrick gold. The court suspension was in response to a legal action that was brought forth by the affected indigenous communities who warned that the mine threatens their water supply and several local glaciers. Lorenzo Soto, a lawyer representing the Diaguita, said the suspension will remain in effect until the company addresses the pollution issue and properly consults the indigenous peoples.

Peguis First Nation along with Fisher River First Nation and several local cottagers blocked a road leading to the Berger Peat Mine in the interlake region of Northern Manitoba, Canada. The action was in response to the Manitoba government’s decision to uphold a license to Berger Peat Moss Ltd. and Sun Gro Horticulture Canada Ltd. despite a failure to adequately consult the first Nations about the many impacts that peat mining would have on their culture and Treaty Rights. Immediately after the government’s decision, Berger began to clear the forests and build roads in the project area; however, according to Peguis First Nation, the company did so despite key provisions in its license which stipulate that no land clearances or road construction can take place until a required plant study and inventory, including for medicinal plants, has been carried out.

Visit Intercontinental Cry to read about these issues and many others.