Algonquin Nation Outraged over Government Go-ahead for Gold Mine on Traditional Lands

The Tribal Council of the Anishinabeg Algonquin Nation and chiefs of six Algonquin communities are opposing the Quebec government’s okay to the Osisko Mining Corporation’s open-pit goldmine on their territory.

The Algonquins’ plan to take every means necessary, including legal procedure, to ensure that this project does not proceed until the rights of the Algonquin people on these lands have been respected.

Quebec gave the corporation authorization to proceed with the mining project in Malartic without any consultation with the First Nations community, in non-compliance with decisions already made by the Supreme Court of Canada on variety of activity. The chiefs also believe that the Government of Canada has not fulfilled its financial commitments to the Algonquin Nation in failing to protect their interests.

Tribal Council will be calling upon the governments of Quebec and Canada to comply with recent rulings by the Supreme Court of Canada for the Haida and Taku River tribes in British Columbia. In this ruling, the court stated that governments have an obligation to consult First Nations and to find a compromise formula that respects their rights.