7/29/2019 Red Cliff Mining Task Force Press Release
2-26-2013
1/1
Red Cliff Mining Task ForceDRAFT Press
ReleaseInresponsetonumerousconcernsbeingvoicedinourcommunity,theRedCliffTribalCouncilunderscoresitscommitmenttoreviewandrespondtoallminingprojectswithapotentialtoimpactLakeSuperior,triballands,andCededTerritories.TheTribeis
activelyengagedasaconsultingpartyonseveralproposedandongoingminingprojectsthroughtheactivitiesoftheRedCliffMiningTaskForceandgovernmentalauthorityoftheTribalCouncil.AsannouncedbyTribalChairRoseGurnoe-Soulier,theRedCliffBandofLakeSuperiorChippewaisopposedtocurrentmininglegislationinWisconsin.TheintentofSB1/AB1istoreduceenvironmentalsafeguardsinordertorecklesslyadvanceminingofthePenokeeRangedespiteoverwhelmingobjectionsbytribalnationsandthegeneralpublicalike.TheproposedlegislationposesnumerousriskstothetriballifewayandtotheresourcesthattheRedCliffTribereliesupontosustaintraditional,cultural,andsubsistencepractices.Substantialdoubtexistsaboutwhethertheseriskscanbeavoidedoradequatelymitigated.Thisdoubtmakesitimprudenttoengageinmining
activitiesthatcannegativelyimpacttreatyprotectedresourceswhich,oncedamaged,cannotbereplaced.Degradationofenvironmentforshort-termeconomicgainwithoutregardforlong-termeconomicsustainabilityisunacceptable.TheRedCliffTribesharesaco-managementresponsibilityoftheLakeSuperiorfisherywithBadRiverandtheStateofWisconsintoensurelong-termbenefitsfromtheresource.Thisresponsibilityextendstoprotectionoftheestablishedeconomiesoftourismandthefisherythatthelakeprovides.LakeSuperioristhelifebloodthatRedCliffdependsonforsurvival.Wewillnotexchangeourcurrenteconomicdriversforminingrevenuethatcannotbesustained.RedCliffisasovereignnationpossessinganindisputableinterestinthebeneficialresourceuseofthelandsandwatersoftheCededTerritories.TheTribehasreservedcertainrightsguaranteedbyperpetualagreementthatprotectessentialresourcesnecessaryforthesustainabilityoftheTribebothnowandinthefuture.Asprovidedbytherelevanttreatiesandunderfederaltrustobligations,noactionshouldplaceundueriskonthesetreatyprotectedresources.TheTribemustbeassuredthattheproposedactions,potentialrisksandcumulativeeffectstofisheries,wildlife,recreationandsustainabilityareidentifiedtodetermineifanyadverseeffectswillresultandthatmitigationsareadequate.ThestateofWisconsinisunderminingtribalsovereigntybynotofferingappropriateconsultationtothenativenationsdisproportionatelyimpactedbythedegradationofnaturalresourcesguaranteedbytreatyrights.Itisfromthislackofproperconsultationthatthetribalnationsstandinsolidaritytoprotectthelargestandmostpristineof
freshwaterseas.Forfurtherinformationcontact:TribalAdministration715-779-3700,MarvinDeFoe,ChairmanoftheRedCliffMiningTaskForce715-779-5514marvin.defoe@redcliff-nsn.gov
,orChadAbel,TreatyNaturalResourcesDivisionAdministrator715-779-3750
[email protected].
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