Urgent call to action and Updates on the Struggle of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake Struggle Against Mining

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Urgent call to action and Updates on the Struggle of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake Against Mining 

What's the latest news?

Drilling on the territory has yet to begin. The community is now aware of specific drilling sites, which they are monitoring. A Quebec consultation on logging has delayed drilling, Quebec consults on cutting trees but not the related mining exploration activities like cutting trails for equipment and clearing drill sites. But tree-cutting and trail construction for drilling could begin as early as next week. Permits may be issued by Quebec to remove trees as early as Monday, December 18. 

In the meantime, community members have been winterizing the land defense camp. They are also continuing political efforts targeting the Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

Things you can do

1) URGENT: Ask Quebec to deny permits for drilling and road-building today and Monday: If you are a resident of Quebec, Please call and e-mail  the Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources Natural and the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs today or Monday, and ask them to deny permits for [removal of trees, trail-making and drilling] in Copper One’s Riviere Dore claim on the territory of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake. These permits are being issued without the free, prior and informed consent of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and stand in direct violation of the community’s wishes for no mining on their traditional territories. Barriere Lake has expressed their opposition to mining on their territories in a September 2016 band council resolution and September 2012 letter to the Quebec government. The extraction of non-renewable resources from ABL territory violates the 1991 Trilateral Agreement with Quebec and Canada; the 1998 Bilateral agreement with Quebec and the 2001 Lincoln-Ciaccia joint recommendations. Tell Quebec to honor its word and deny these permits.

MERN: – Mines///418 627-62781 800 363-7233(Toll-free in Canada and United States)/
service.mines@mern.gouv.qc.ca 

MERN Director of Aboriginal Affairs// 418 627-6254// 5700, 4e Avenue Ouest, C-422// Québec (Québec) G1H 6R

 MFFP Haute-Gatineau-et-du-Cabonga //266, rue Notre-Dame, RC 100///Maniwaki (Québec) J9E 2J8

Phone: 819 449-3333 // Fax : 819 449-6865. Email : outaouais@mffp.gouv.qc.ca

Bureau of the sub-Minister of Forests// 5700, 4^e Avenue Ouest, bureau A-405// Québec (Québec) G1H 6R1// Phone: 418 627-8652

2) Watch the movie Honour your Word : You can now stream the movie on your computer for $4.99. Even better, watch it with friends or organize a screening with a group. Be part of a growing network of supporting individuals and groups.

3) 

Donate : Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Donations from people like you have covered basic costs of the land defense camp and monitoring of the territory. These costs are ongoing, and there are likely to be other needs in the months ahead. Donations continue to be very welcome and helpful. You can donate through Paypal or by cheque. 

4) Sign and share the petition: You can sign it online, or print this paper copy: printable English version

5) Print the PDF brochure (1pg doublesided, folded in three) on Barriere Lake's struggle against Mining to make copies and distribute

6) Spread the word and stay tuned : Soon there will be other ways to support the community. By email or through our Facebook page, stay tuned for upcoming events to be announced in the coming weeks or months in Montreal, Ottawa or Toronto.

6) Watch these two short videos that you can stream online on the struggle of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake against mining

What is at stake?

For the community, a huge mine in the heart of their territory would have devastating effects. The community has invited other users of the territory and supporters to join them in protecting this area, which includes part of the largest wildlife reserve in Quebec. Communities downstream also have reasons to oppose the proposed mine, which threatens to contaminate the headwaters of the Ottawa river