| First Nation Leaders Jailed for Peaceful Protest | 02 April 08 |
 On March 17, 2008, an Ontario Superior Court judge sentenced six Aboriginal protesters to six months of jail for peacefully defying a court order that would allow Platinex, a mining exploration company, to drill for minerals on their traditional lands in Northern Ontario, Canada. The Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation fears mining activity will jeopardize hunting and burial grounds and argues the Ontario government awarded mineral exploration permits without consulting and accommodating their people, a violation of aboriginal rights and Canadian law.The individuals jailed include the Chief and four Councilors of the (KI) First Nation. One of them, a woman, is separately incarcerated at the Kenora jail. KI First Nation continues to recognize its Chief and Councilors as leaders in exile and as prisoners of conscience. It has also declared that a 2001 community declared moratorium on exploration and development will continue to be enforced in KI traditional territory. Support for the jailed protestors comes from many quarters. See links below for news coverage, resolutions in support, and other information. View March 17, 2008 Open Letter to Ontario Premier McGuinty from concerned organizations (PDF) View March 20, 2008 Open Letter to Chief Phil Fontaine from The First Nations Summit and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs View March 20, 2008 Canada NewsWire article View March 19, 2008 Prospectors and Developers of Canada press release View March 25, 2008 Globe and Mail article View March 20, 2008 Globe and Mail Opinion Editorial (PDF) View Intercontinental Cry chronology on this story Visit Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation website Source: Maquila Solidarity Network |
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