Environmentalists/Natives concerned about other Natives/People concerned about Treaty violations: PLEASE READ!
http://www.change.org/petitions/wisconsin-senate-and-assembly-natural-resources-committees-say-no-to-mining-the-penokees
Above is a link to a petition that would be presented to ask for the stop of AB 426 in WI which would allow for the proposed Gogebic Taconite Mine in Ashland County, WI within the Bad River Water Basin on Lake Superior. Local citizens and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe are outraged at this attempt of Wisconsin's Governor Walker to force an international mining company with a history of pollution into the area without the consultation of locals. Open pit mining has historically lead to higher amounts of mercury and sulfuric acid in the water, which would disturb the delicate balance of Lake Superior. The proposed mine would ruin the wild rice beds which Bad River members harvest wild rice. This is a violation of Bad River's and all the Lake Superior Ojibwe's treaties and would endanger a vital tradition.
While the mine may have some economic benefits (the mine is proposed to be active for 35 years), they are short-lived and would leave us with degraded water sources. This is the trademark of mining as we have already seen in neighboring areas. In reality, the one with the most to gain from this mine is Governor Scott Walker, up for a recall election in November who is attempting to make good on his promise to create 250,00 jobs for Wisconsin. Unfortunately, his attempt to do so ignores his constituents and violates treaties between the Lake Superior Chippewa and the State of Wisconsin is 1837. The Gogebic Taconite mine is proposed to create between 600-2,000 jobs, a small fraction of his 250,000. Please sign and demand that citizen's voices be heard over Walker's election campaign promise greed.
Below are links to more information on the bill itself, treaty law, and negotiations.
P.S. This legislation and mine particularly hit home for me, as I am a member of the nearby Red Cliff Band and my (half) sister is a member of the Bad River Band. Her father harvests wild rice from these exact endangered waters. She and I and the literally everyone in my family eat that wild rice every year. It disturbs me to think that someday soon not only will I and my family not be able to enjoy traditional manoomin from our home, but mine and my sister's children will not. This is water that we live on and has been part of our livelihoods for hundreds of generations and we hope for many many more. PLEASE PLEASE PASS ON.
http://conservationvoters.org/images/pdf/201112legcouncilmemo.pdf
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/01/25/wisconsin-endangers-a-sacred-tradition-73365
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/01/24/73401-73401
http://www.weau.com/news/headlines/Wis_senator_rejects_mining_compromise_140942143.html
http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/ui_local_default.pdf
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/mining-legislation-all-but-dead-mb4cs1t-140952083.html
http://projects.propublica.org/recovery/item/20120201/22710
http://64.38.12.138/News/2012/004500.asp
http://intercontinentalcry.org/bad-river-chippewa-against-proposed-mining-legislation-in-wisconsin/
http://www.wisbar.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=24013
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/northern-wisconsin-chippewa-tribes-might-use-treaties-to-halt-or/article_29df2076-59c9-11e1-851c-001871e3ce6c.html
