Mining in Northern Labrador
1/27/97
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Jan 27, 1997
Dreaming of Development: Mining in Northern Labrador
The past two years have been turbulent for the indigenous
inhabitants of Labrador, to say the least. The recent discovery of
what is being called the largest nickel find in the world led to an
unprecedented Klondike rush in the far north of Eastern North
America. As of last summer, over 220,000 square kilometers of
mineral claims were held by over 200 companies from around the
world. By now, after two years of intensive exploration, many of
these companies are packing up and going home empty handed. But
what is scaring the the Innu and Inuit, is the idea that some may not
-- leading to the development of the one of the world's last
prestigious wild regions.
In wake of the great rush to find the next 'Voisey Bay', over
100,000 three inch holes have been left (essentially small tailings
ponds), numerous abandoned camps, oil leaks, archaeological site
intrusions and the impact of thousands of helicopter flights on the
landscape of the boreal woodlands. Neither the Innu nor the Inuit
nations were consulted before their land was invaded by hundreds
of multinational mining companies; seldom are they told of new
camps and activities, seldom are the camps and outposts cleaned up
(leading to unreported fuel contamination of once pristine lakes and
ponds) and seldom are they respected in their requests for
notification and for responsible behavior towards their homeland.
Fortunately, the majority of the claims do not seem to be
panning out, which will probably lead to the termination of
thousands of claims. Nevertheless, the question of accountability for
the ecological impacts of exploration activity remains unanswered:.
Once a company's claim is terminated, is the government of
Newfoundland to be held accountable for the mess and subsequent
cleanup? One would hope so. Yet, incredibly, during inspection tours
of a small number of exploration sites, the Newfoundland
representative was apparently only interested in the question of the
Innu Nations accountability for the clean up of Innu hunting camps.
After Voisey Bay: Other Discoveries
There are a few areas, besides Voisey Bay, that are looking as if
all they need is some infrastructure development to get them up and
running:
%The Strange lake area on the Quebec-Labrador border west of
Voisey Bay, It is said to hold deposits of Zirconium, Niobium, Yttrium,
and other rare earth Elements. These deposits have been known for
about a decade, but have been uneconomic given the enormous
infrastructure development costs that would be required.
%Another area of extreme interest is the Harp Lake area, about
mid- way between Voisey Bay and Goose Bay. This unusual lake has
had as many as six drilling camps on its shores, and is expected to
start showing significant finds next year. (Harp Lake, which has
numerous cliffs used by raptors for nesting, was determined to be a
so-called sensitive area in the low-level flying avoidance program.)
%Just South of Davis Inlet, in an area known as Flowers Bay to the
mapmakers, a company may have found gold. (Flowers Bay is one of
the four major river systems in Central labrador said to be absolutely
critical to the survival of the Atlantic Harlequin Duck.)
%North of the Voisey Bay deposit are a number of exploration sites.
In fact, the focus of the current frenzy is happening north of Nain
and the Frasier River, where the southern boundary for the proposed
Torngat National Park meanders from the sea to the Naskapi
plateau. Frasier Canyon, Okak Bay, and Saglek Bay are presently
undergoing intensive drill programs, with as many as six camps
operating around the clock in search of "the next Voisey Bay".
If you build it, they will come
The flurry of activity and the possibility of other mineral
deposits have suggested the surreal idea of a developed Labrador.
Numerous development proposals have surfaced, in which the
'displaced Labradorian', finds a new purpose in the Northland. Start-
up companies eager for a piece of the action have offered their
services in the areas of exploration, engineering, construction; new
hotel are under construction and new bars have opened in Nain. A
number of Chamber of Commerces (mainly from southern Labrador
hard hit by the collapse of the cod fishery) have issued reports
describing the benefits of settling and building in their towns. Some
have even hired consultants and/or companies to draft proposals for
centralized development, including a road from Goose Bay to Voisey
Bay, the completion of the trans-Labrador Highway, and a hyro-
electric dam of the Falls of the Kamistastin, headwaters to Cabot
Lake, the Kogluk River and Voisey Bay.
So far, it seems as if these dream proposals are just that,
dreams. But, as exploration activities advance, thereby becoming
more viable projects, these dreams creep insidiously from the
ethereal into the realm of the possible. --John Clark
[John Clark recently travelled to Voisey Bay with John "Storm"
Waters from the Cold Mountain/Cold Rivers Guerilla Video
Collective.]
From Nitassinan News
The Friends of Nitassinan is an international
support group for the Innu people of the Quebec-
Labrador peninsula (Nitassinan), in their struggles
to defend their homeland from indistrial intrusions.
The Nitassinan news is produced by Alexis
Lathem and John Clark.
The Friends of Nitassinan would like to thank
the Haymarket People's Fund, the Ben & Jerry's
Foundation, the Human-i-tees Foundation,
and the Green Mountain Fund.
For more information contact:
Innu Nation
POB 119
Sheshatsiu, Labrador
A0P 1M0 Canada
709-497-8398 fax: 8396
email: innu@web.apc.org
Katie Rich, Band Council Chief
General Delivery
Davis Inlet, Labrador
709-478-8902 fax: 8936
Friends of Nitassinan
POB 804
Burlington VT 05402
ph/fax: 802-425-3820
Information transferred via--
Native Forest Network (NFN)
Eastern North American Resource Center
POB 57
Burlington, VT 05402 USA
Telephone: (802)863-0571
Fax: (802)863-2532
Email: nfnena@igc.apc.org