LandKeepers News Archive
First Nations Women Seeking Responsible Mining has placed personal ads in three major BC dailies
January 18 2010 | Media Releases
Personal Ad “Mining” for Genuine Partners
Jan. 18, 2010: Vancouver:
First Nations Women Seeking Responsible Mining has placed personal ads in three major BC dailies for genuine mining company partners. The goal is to draw attention to the need for industry to work with First Nations to develop meaningful shared land use planning, decision making and sustainable long-term relationships.
The ad, which appears Tuesday January 19 on the second day of the BC Association of Mineral Explorers’s week-long round up in Vancouver, states: “Attention BC AME Roundup attendees – are you a Prince Charming? First Nations women seek sensitive, mining companies for meaningful long-term relationships. Must be good listeners, willing to share decision-making, and environmentally, socially and culturally aware. Must clean up after themselves. Money-grubbing gold-diggers need not apply: Contact First Nations Women Seeking Responsible Mining.”
FNWSRM is a newly formed coalition of First Nations women leaders from northern BC with extensive experience and shared challenges in dealing with mining issues. As leading figures in their communities they have seen some of the worst that the industry can throw at First Nations in their pursuit of gold and other resources, and some of the better approaches.
Their priority is to protect their communities, traditional lands and future generations from the type of mining practices that have left BC riddled with close to 2,000 abandoned mines – two thirds of which are till spewing pollutants into the environment.
They continue to deal with mining encroachments on their traditional – and in some cases reserves lands – often by companies that have failed to clean up old mines that continue to pollute their lands, fish and wildlife, and which will affect the health of their people for generations to come.
Too often these women leaders have been marginalized and offered at best rubber stamp consultation opportunities, which in no way meet the court imposed duties for consultation and accommodation.
At worst they have experienced intimidation campaigns aimed at discrediting them in the media and in their communities. Even their children at school have felt the impacts of these campaigns. Other tactics have included a lawsuit to silence a leader and bribes to obtain consultation interviews behind the backs of First Nations councils. However, FNWSRM members are also aware of cases where companies are trying to work in a genuine and meaningful way with First Nations to respect their rights, cultures, and environment and health.
FNWSRM is working to promote this latter approach with industry, while supporting the efforts of the BC First Nations Leadership Council and the BC First Nations Mining and Energy Council to reform the free entry mining system and environmental assessment review legislation pending an ultimate resolution of title and rights in BC.
Media Contact: Anne Marie Sam – 250-649-8284.
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