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KITCHENUHMAYKOOSIB INNINUWUG press release

First Nations Solidarity With KI

April 15, 2008

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug wish to once again thank all of our supporters, especially those First Nations who have supported us by suspending or terminating negotiations on mining and exploration in their territories.  The list of communities and organizations supporting KI and our allies, the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, is growing every day!  Most recently the Manitoba Chiefs sent a letter to Premier Doer to convey their disappointment with the recent incarceration of the KI Chief and Council for the protection of their homelands. They also canceled a meeting with the Manitoba Cabinet as a result of the actions taken by Ontario against KI. 

KI also takes this opportunity to respond to the April 11, 2008 Communique from Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN) concerning the resumption of their Northern Table discussions with Ontario.  NAN had suspended the Table after the incarceration of KI’s leaders on March 17.  KI is naturally disappointed with the NAN Executive’s decision as it is their aspiration that First Nations stand in solidarity on a matter of this importance.

We are especially disappointed that NAN Grand Chief Beardy is attempting to justify his decision to change course and resume discussions with Ontario by claiming that Chief Donny Morris told NAN elders that he had no objection to NAN returning to the Northern Table.  Chief Morris said “It is not respectful of our elders, or the incarcerated KI leadership, to take portions of a private discussion out of context to support the Grand Chief’s agenda.  If the Grand Chief wants to resume the Northern Table because he’s worried about funding flowing to NAN he should be honest about his reasons and not try to justify his actions on the backs of KI and our elders.”

At a recent NAN Assembly held in Thunder Bay 11 Chiefs who voted to suspend the Northern Table, 9 Chiefs abstained and 6 voted for continuing discussion.
We honor the ancestral and treaty relationship which we have with the other First Nations in our region.  This kinship is based on our common ancestral roots from since time immemorial. At a conference held here in KI a week before the NAN Assembly a position was declared by the communities present that they stood in solidarity with KI in the protection of the homelands. 

We remind everyone that KI left NAN in 1997 and we remain independent of NAN today.  Only KI can speak for KI.  We therefore also object to Grand Chief Beardy’s statement that he will speak on behalf of KI and our issues when he meets with Ontario’s Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Bryant.  In closing, we want to reiterate very strongly that a protocol established by the Chief and Council directs that any process, statements and positions developed by any person, group or institution which makes reference to or impacts KI must be reviewed and ratified by the KI working group before it’s sanctioning and distribution.  

Contacts:   Jacob Ostaman, Acting Spokesperson, KI Band Office (807) 537-2263