Michigan American Indian Standoff: Tribal camp at base of Sacred Eagle Rock to stop Kennecott acid mine
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- Yoopernewsman
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Levi Tadgerson, an Anishinaabe man who loves and respects the environment, narrates this video that invites everyone to join the encampment at the base of Eagle Rock - the sooner the better because a confrontation between mine owners, the police and those protecting Sacred Eagle Rock could happen at any moment.
Tadgerson is a 22-year-old Northern Michigan University senior and member of Bay Mills Indian Community.
In the video, you will see the many amazing things happening to protect Sacred Eagle Rock including an appearance by popular American Indian singer/songwriter Elder Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaine of Iron River, MI - an elder of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe in Wisconsin.
He sings and leads a thank you drum under the shadow of Sacred Eagle Rock.
This video was shot on 4/29/2010.
Background:
Eagle Rock has been a sacred place to hold ceremonies since the Ojibwa tribe was created and was seeded to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) under treaties with the American government.
The multi-tribe encampment, that could be raided by mine guards and police at any moment, is blocking the Eagle Mine Project by international mining giant Kennecott Minerals and its parent company Rio Tinto.
KBIC member Glen Bressette Jr., 38, of Harvey, Michigan brought a rare legally-permitted Eagle has been received to award feathers to those who honor their tribes by protecting sacred Eagle Rock and other honorable actions.
Dozens of people from numerous tribes have spent days at the camp - and many others have brought supplies to the remote site on dirt roads about an hour from any city.
The state of Michigan has claimed ownership to the land - but the lease with Kennecott only takes effect when the mine has secured all permits.
Opponents say the mine must still get a federal EPA groundwater permit - but under a technicality the mine owners say they do not need the permit and recently put up “No Trespassing” signs.
The American Indians rushed to the sight after Kennecott ordered the arrest of longtime mine opponent Cynthia Pryor of Big Bay, MI on April 20, 2010.
Pryor was out for her usual walk on the Yellow Dog Plains when she spotted a bulldozer - and refused to leave saying the mine still had an EPA permit pending.
Pryor is a member of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.
Among the Ojibwa tribes from Michigan and Wisconsin on sight are KBIC, Lac Du Flambeau, and Bay Mills Indian Community.
As of April 30th, the mine guards has not confronted the campers - but the day before ordered no still or video cameras are allowed. That has campers worried about why what they do not want videotaped or documented - thus nerves are high.
When a reporter arrived a short time later - the campers allowed him on the sight and this story was videotaped.
For more information call:
1-906-401-0109
The video was produced by the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI, which has founded numerous youth, faith and Native American related environment projects.
Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaine of Iron River, MI - a member of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe in Wisconsin.
He is a well-know longtime native singer:
http://www.bobbybullet.com
Petition to support Cynthia Pryor
www.savethewildup.org/jailed/petition
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve:
http://www.yellowdogwatershed.org/blog
Save the Wild U.P. (SWUP):
http://www.savethewildup.org
SWUP Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20079015072
SWUP Causes on Facebook
http://www.causes.com/causes/46130?recruiter_id=60587135
Stand for the Land blog:
http://standfortheland.com
Stand for the Land flickr photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49633257@N03
Stories by Gabriel Caplett and others on the “Headwaters: Citizen Journalism For the Great Lakes” website.
http://headwaters.net
Headwaters stories include opposition to the Kennecott Eagle Mine project and alleged international crimes and bad acts by Kennecott Mining and its parent company Rio Tinto:
“Taking a Stand”: Sacred Site Celebrated Despite Citizen Arrest
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/taking-a-stand-sacred-site-celebrated-d...
Pryor Ordered to Leave Jail:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/pryor-ordered-to-leave-jail
Cynthia Prior Pleads Not Guilty:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/cynthia-pryor-pleads-not-guilty
Cynthia Pryor arrested at mine property:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/citizen-arrested-for-%E2%80%9Ctrespassi...
Eagle Mine Concerns Raised at Rio Tinto Meeting:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/audio-rio-tintos-annual-general-meeting
Upper Peninsula Mine Threatens Sacred Tribal Rights:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/upper-peninsula-mine-threatens-sacred-trib...
Rio Tinto Stomps on Indigenous Rights in Upper Peninsula of Michigan:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/rio-tinto-stomps-out-indigenous-rights-in-...
Kennecott Minerals parent company Rio Tinto accused of crimes ranging from bribery to espionage to violating mining act:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/uk-serious-fraud-office-to-investigate-...
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-employees-charged-with-indust...
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-pleads-guilty-to-breach-of-mi...
USA Today and Washington Post stories from Associated Press by writer John Flesher article about Chauncey Moran, vice chairman of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and a volunteer stream monitor
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-09-08-276323347_x.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/08/AR2007090800356....
More stories and info about Chauncey Moran:
http://www.waterkeeper.org/ht/d/OrganizationDetails/id/707
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AP05J20091126
Mining Journal stories:
Native American activists protest at Eagle Rock 4/25/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543341.html
Mining Journal Editorial: Cooler heads must prevail in mine protests 4/25/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543354.html
Pryor pleads not guilty to trespassing: Mining opponent arrested at Kennecott operation 4/21/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543227.html
Mine foe Pryor remains jailed 4/22/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543253.html
Rally Held at Eagle Rock
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543014.html?nav=5006
Mining Journal Video of Rally:
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543018.html?nav=5056
DEQ mine decision questioned 1/16/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/539169.html
Yellow Dog Plains on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Dog_Plains
Yellow Dog Plains Pix via Wikipedia By Maynard Leon and Kirill Zikanov (Wiki username Kirillz)
Trouble on the Yellow Dog Plains:
http://savethewildup.org/files/swup/265.pdf
GRANHOLM, DEQ DECISION CONDEMNED BY U.P.
http://www.ausableanglers.org/files/members/RIVERWATCH48.pdf
Protect the Earth: Part 2, Walk to Eagle Rock By Michele Bourdieu
http://keweenawnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/protect-earth-part-2-walk-to-eagle-rock....
State of Michigan Info on Eagle Mine Project:
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3311_4111_18442-130551--,00.html
Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute:
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org
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Yoopernewsman
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To Paul Schumacher - what a great comment - and from a former (or always) yooper.
Thank you Paul for your great insight and speaking the truth. - 2 years ago
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Yoopernewsman
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Paul_Schumacher
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I used to live in Marquette and Lake Linden for almost 20 years. While in the U.P. I learned a lot about the history of the Upper Peninsula, and came to love the land. What I find unbelievable is the lack of outrage by the citizens at the raping and plundering of the land in pristine Northern Marquette County. The idea of a few jobs, for a limited time, seems to have placated the locals. Do you not see what mining has done to the Upper Peninsula? You can see the devastation, pollution, and permanent damage that has been done in every case. Look at the Tilden Mine. From the air it is a complete wasteland. Look at what the copper mining has done to the Keweenaw! The stamp sands, arsenic and other toxic compounds are everywhere. Sure these huge scale operations helped bring people to the U.P., but the legacy of them has all of us paying a price for it. Mining is not the solution, but a problem. The companies do not care what happens after they are done taking what they can, and destroying what they can. The State Of Michigan cares not for the future of the land. The Governor of this State is oblivious to the cronyism and profiteering that is going on because of the Kennecott company strategy. They know Gov. Granholm is already in their back pocket otherwise why would they be so active on the site with no final permits? No Trespassing on State land? Since when? Obviously corruption will precede the destruction. Sadly, most Michiganders are oblivious and could care less about Eagle Rock, the Salmon-Trout River, or even the Yellow Dog Plains. It is all of you who care not, who will pay the price for the resultant pollution.
In an ideal world, mining could be done with no resultant destruction, but Rio Tinto has no track record of success, only a record of permanent pollution. These lands should not be protected just for the Sacred Eagle Rock, but for future generations to safely experience, enjoy, and love.
- 2 years ago
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Paul_Schumacher
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Yoopernewsman
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Paul_Schumacher:
Your knowledge of the U.P. is obvious
Thank you fellow yooper for the words of support and for pointing out the long history of the abuse of the Earth here - tho - till now - yoopers have done a pretty good job protecting our land (70s-90s) - but we seem to reverting to the past - like the stamp sands pollution from copper mining of old. - 2 years ago
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Yoopernewsman
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Admiral_Lobeam
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Thank you for protecting the rights our forefathers obtained when they ceded these territories at the Treaty of LaPointe in 1854. You are heros - everyone of you and I will never forget that you stood up and took a stand. I will join you soon and we will win this battle in the end.
To those of you who think we are victims let me make something very clear. I am a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. I am an American military veteran with 20-years of honorable service in the United States Navy. While I can understand how some may view Native people as victims because there are many who gave up all hope long ago and many others who would simply rather fight then win. But just like I fought for your freedom for 20 long years, all over the world, I will fight to protect the lawful rights of my tribe. Together, we will make sure that others not unreasonably pollute or otherwise harm those natural resources that appertain to our tribe and our people. We will win this battle by any means necessary. Make no mistake about that. You can believe anything you want. I'm ready to make believers out of each and every one of you.
- 2 years ago
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Admiral_Lobeam
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Yoopernewsman
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Admiral_Lobeam:
Thank you for serving our country and its great to hear thoughts by someone who belongs to KBIC.
Its suppossed to snow about 7 inches tonight - but everyone is still hoping the KBIC Tribal Council goes to Eagle Rock tomorrow as planned.
Being a news reporter, I respect everyone who has served our country and fought for my freedom to be a journalist. - 2 years ago
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Yoopernewsman
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artemis6
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They are doing what is right .
- 2 years ago
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artemis6
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Yoopernewsman
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artemis6:
Thank you from all those at Sacred Eagle Rock
- 2 years ago
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Yoopernewsman
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CalgarC
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Fight the good Fight
- 2 years ago
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CalgarC
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Yoopernewsman
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CalgarC:
They are - thank you
- 2 years ago
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Yoopernewsman
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Kurta
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Great story and wealth of info, Yoopernewsman.
The Native Americans have a had a tough deal. I have respect for those keeping the ancient traditions alive. I admire their reverence for the remaining pure expanses of American wilderness. It's really a shame that these mining companies are most likely going to drop yet another heavy foot upon a pristine environment. They can't seem to leave well enough alone.
- 2 years ago
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Kurta
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Yoopernewsman
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Kurta:
Thank you Kurta for your comments - it means a lot
I will pass along your comments to my friend Levi and everyone at the campsite - and your comments will liftup his spirits - 2 years ago
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Yoopernewsman
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tenletterz [removed]
- This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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tenletterz [removed]
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Yoopernewsman
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tenletterz:
To change the issue to this one - you must have a great dislike (or more) for Native Americans.
I do not go to casinos (much) because I don't want to loose money.
As for rich native Americans - travel here to the U.P. or to the Rosebud or Pine Ridge Reservations - that look like third world countries.
Sounds like you dwell on this casino thing - let it go - be happy.
Only you know how much prejudice is in your heart (none or much).
I only ask you keep your comments on topic - and please use your venom and fight for the casino issue elsewhere.
This story is about brave people standing up to a rich mining company that have may local politicos and business people rich. - 2 years ago
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Yoopernewsman
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JanforGore
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It is criminal how greed is now taking away the land from those who were there first. My thoughts are with those taking a stand.
- 2 years ago
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JanforGore
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tenletterz [removed]
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JanforGore: This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
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tenletterz [removed]
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Kurta
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tenletterz:
Heeeere we go. Heh.
- 2 years ago
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Kurta
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Yoopernewsman
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JanforGore:
Thank you Jan for Gore.
I will pass along your comments to Levi and everyone at the standoff.
I am sure - even tho I am a white guy - my friends in the Ojibwa tribe would say thank you for your words of support. - 2 years ago
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Yoopernewsman
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JanforGore
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Yoopernewsman:
You're welcome. Companies are taking indigenous land all over the world in a landgrab, and it will take brave people like these to stand up to them. I featured this on the Sustainable Agriculture Group, and please feel free to add anymore reports on this to that group.
- 2 years ago
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JanforGore
