First Nation takes protest to lawn of Ont. legislature
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 | 9:07 AM ET
CBC News
A mining dispute in northern Ontario has moved to the front lawn of the Ontario legislature.
Native and environmental protesters have set up a three-day camp on the grounds of Queen's Park, asking the government to revise the province's mining legislation. They also want Premier Dalton McGuinty to grant six jailed native leaders a reprieve.
The three-day protest will include singing, dancing and other traditional native ceremonies.
It's no vacation, according to Donny Morris chief of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, or K-I First Nation.
"Yeah, I would say we've been misled. Misled to believe things were done on our behalf here, so that's why we're bringing the fight to Toronto," he said.
That fight has already landed the K-I chief in jail along with five others.
Dubbed the K-I 6, they were sentenced to six months in jail for contempt of court after ignoring a judge's order not to interfere with the mining firm Platinex.
The company staked mineral claims on disputed Crown without the natives' permission. But under Ontario's century-old Mining Act, it's perfectly legal.
Sam McKay, another of the K-I 6, said if the mine goes ahead it has the potential to poison the Big Trout Lake watershed.
"It's only 17 kilometres from the south shore of our lake that we live at, and that's our livelihood," said McKay.
Protesters will stay on Queen's Park front lawn until May 29, the Assembly of First Nations' National Day of Action.
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