KI Walk for Justice at Ontario legislature on Aboriginal Day
NAN Press Release
Far North First Nation Walkers End 2000 km Walk for Justice at Queen's Park
THUNDER BAY, ON, June 19 /CNW/ - Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy will attend a news conference where a group of four walkers from Kitchnuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) will arrive at the Ontario Legislature as they conclude their over 2000 km walking journey raising awareness of land protection issues and the $10 billion lawsuit against the James Bay Treaty 9 community by Platinex mining company.
DATE: Wednesday June 21, 2006
TIME: 10:30 a.m.
LOCATION: Media Studio, 1st Floor - West Entrance
Ontario Legislature
Queen's Park, Toronto, ON
Mark T. Anderson, Darryl Sainnawap, Wallace Mosquito, and Dylan Morris along with supporters from KI and Toronto area will begin their last leg to Queen's Park outside Upper Canada College 8:30 a.m. June 21, 2006.
The group of walkers - all from KI - are hoping to raise awareness of the failure of the Government of Ontario to update the Mining Act to include recent Supreme Court rulings, including Mikisew (November 2005), that resulted in a $10 billion lawsuit against KI for protecting traditional territory during a peaceful protest that stopped Platinex mining late February 2006.
Despite a community declared moratorium on resource development since 1998 and Supreme Court rulings to consult and accommodate, Platinex received permission from the Government of Ontario to start drilling February 2006.
The walkers left Pickle Lake, ON Tuesday May 9, 2006. Wednesday June 21st is National Aboriginal Day.
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For further information: Jenna Young, Director of Communications, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, (807) 625 4952, or (807) 628 3953 mobile; John Cutfeet, Spokesperson, Kitchnuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, (807) 627-9062