The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is warning of Ipperwash-like consequences if Queen's Park doesn't halt a junior miner company from exploring for gold on land considered sacred by a northwestern Ontario First Nation community.
OFL president Sid Ryan said the government is sowing the seeds of a violent confrontation unless respect is shown for Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug's (KI) moratorium on mineral exploration.
“Ontario must immediately cease its flagrant disregard for KI land rights and sacred burial sites,” said Ryan in a Nov. 28 statement. “Has the government learned nothing from the Ipperwash tragedy?”
The community maintains God's Lake Resources are staking on sacred burial sites and issued the company an eviction notice for trespassing back in September. The company stated in a release that it has been unable to enter into consultation talks with the First Nation.
Talks with the province to address KI's issues and the call for a halt to exploration broke off in mid-November. Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle has said the government is committed to following up.
The community has opposed exploration in recent years stemming from a 2008 confrontation with junior miner Platinex that saw six band members jailed for blocking the company's access to a drilling site.
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