Randy Bond, a retired Steelcase worker from Bulah, and Paula Marie
Deubel, a mother from Sterling Heights, traveled to Robertsville, Ontario
on Sunday, February 24, as Michigan Peace Team representatives on a delegation
sponsored by Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). At the proposed Robertsville Mine
site (about 80 km north of Kingston, ON), two Algonquin First Nations
communities are struggling to protect their unceded land from exploratory
uranium drilling.
Disregarding Aboriginal ancestral rights, the Ontario government has licensed
Frontenac Ventures under the Ontario Mining Act to conduct exploratory drilling
on 60 square kilometers of historic Algonquin territory. An open-pit uranium
mine would release toxic radon gas and polonium, and leave behind millions of
tons of radioactive tailings that will permanently pollute groundwater. The
Ardoch First Nation says, "Uranium mining will lead directly to our social,
spiritual and cultural demise."
The First Nation communities are responding to Ontario's Ministry of Northern
Development and Mines' insistence that exploratory drilling go on despite the
Ministry having earlier given assurances that drilling was subject to
negotiation. A court order, suspended during negotiations, called on the First
Nations not to impede the entrance of any Frontenac Ventures employees to the
area under exploration. On Sunday, February 3, in a meeting between First
Nations and non-aboriginal settlers, both Shabot and Ardoch leadership
reiterated their commitment to a firm, nonviolent defense of their territory.
The Algonquin blockade is also supported by local "settler" (non-Algonquin)
residents. The dates of the delegation coincide with a time of great uncertainty
as to the progress of negotiations. The delegation plans to meet with Algonquin
leaders, settler and environmental activists, government officials, and those
representing mining interests.
MPT members Bond and Deubel returned on March 1, and are ready to share what they
have learned. For information on making arrangements for them to speak
to your group or congregation, please contact
Michigan Peace Team.
Michigan Peace Team was founded in 1993. It provides trainings in active
nonviolence designed for the specific needs of the participants, and deploys
peace teams into places of conflict (both domestically and internationally) to
reduce violence. MPT convenes, supports, and participates with local peace
action groups and gatherings, and mentors individuals seeking experience with
international teams in places of conflict. It also educates the public to the
vision and practice of active nonviolence. MPT has deployed peace teams into
areas of potential violence around the world.
Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative of the historic peace churches
(Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, and Quakers) with support and membership
from a range of Catholic and Protestant denominations. CPT sends teams of
trained peacemakers to places of conflict around the world. CPT kept a presence
at the Robertsville site from September 4 to October 12, 2007. For more
information about CPT contact the Chicago office at 773-277-0253, or e-mail
peacemakers@cpt.org
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