Stand Against Uranium
“The message that we are carrying today is simple,” said Joshua Iserhoff, chair of the Cree Nation youth council. “We don’t want uranium mining in our territory. We don’t want the waters and the lands to be contaminated, things that would be destroyed forever.”
This march was one of the numerous ways that the Cree nation is trying to fight uranium development in their territory in Northern Quebec. Their battle dates back to 2006, when uranium extraction was first proposed in Mistissini.
Strateco Resourses, a Boucherville-based company, has invested $120 million in uranium mining in the area, in the last ten years. The Matoush project – as it is called – is the most advanced uranium project to date in Cree territory. Ever since, the Cree people have been defending their land, fearing of how uranium exploitation will affect the water, soil and living organisms.
“Our way of life as Cree remains linked to our lands. Our people continue to live off the land. And traditional hunting, fishing and trapping activities continue to sustain us economically, physically and spiritually. We are part of our land. Uranium development puts the land at risk; and for this reason it [uranium development] puts our way of life and identity as Crees at risk,” said Mathew Coon Come, grand chief of the James Bay Cree Nation.
The Matoush project has been on hold since Oct. 2013, when the Government of Quebec back then, announced its decision to impose a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining activities. However, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission had granted an exploration licence to Strateco Resources, allowing the company to do advanced exploration for uranium at the site.
The Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) has been conducting province-wide public hearings regarding the uranium sector in Quebec. And while the BAPE uranium process hearings are still under way, no authorisations for uranium exploration or mining projects will be granted, and the proposed Matoush advanced exploration project cannot be permitted to proceed.
BAPE held the last phase of the public hearings on uranium exploration Monday night and will submit their recommendations to the Minister of Environment in May 2015.
“We are not against all mining development on our territory. We have various elements, we have black rock, they’re extracting gold, diamonds and other natural resources – we are not opposed to that at all. In fact we accept them. It is just that particular one [uranium] that we don’t want,” explained Isherhoff.
The potential risks associated with uranium mining, such as the trails it leaves behind and how they will cause irreversible damage to the environment and health, are the main concerns of the Cree people.
“As it was clearly expressed by various doctors in phase two, the extent of health risks posed by uranium mining to populations located nearby, remains largely unknown. The mining industry relies upon this insufficient data to make the argument that there are no proven health impacts in local population. Our response is that the absence of proof of danger is not proof of the absence of danger,” said Coon Come in his speech towards BAPE on Monday.
The Stand Against Uranium solidarity march, organized by the Cree Nation Youth Council, took off on Nov.23d from Chibougamau. Walking about 30km per day for 23 days, the group traveled through Roberval, the Laurentides Park and Quebec City until they reached Montreal. Throughout their trip they met with many people that expressed their support for their cause.
“It is something that is bringing a message to Quebec, to Canada- even the world. Some people from Brazil tweeted us, and walked with us simultaneously two weeks ago in Copacabana. We have so much support from so many countries; we are so thankful,” said Iserhoff.
Iserhoff also assured that even after the hearings on Monday, the James Bay Cree Nation will not stop their fight to protect their land; instead they will try to reach to the masses of the world to stand with them. With their hash tag #StandAgainstUranium they invite people to follow their cause and to join them in their opposition against all uranium exploration, mining and waste storage.
“Our people have informed themselves about uranium development and the legacies that such activities will leave upon our land. We have considered the long term risks and the potential short term benefits. We do not like what we have learned- and we do not consent,” said Coon Come.
