The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor MLA Clarence Pettersen is calling for greater cooperation among all sides as First Nations protesters demand an ownership stake in at least one area mine. He made the statement at a forum on Idle No More, the aboriginal-based protest movement, held earlier this month in Thompson. 'I want to work together. That's why my main interest in here is that things go smoothly in my constituency,' Pettersen told the crowd. 'I don't want to see that ugly face of racism...and it's racism on both sides, too, it's not just one.' As part of Idle No More, Pukatawagan's Mathias Colomb Cree Nation (MCCN) has called for a share of resources from Hudbay's Lalor mine near Snow Lake. MCCN claims Lalor sits on its traditional territory. See 'Similar...' on pg. 6 Continued from pg. 3 MCCN protesters implemented a temporary road blockade near Lalor last month. During the blockade, Chief Arlen Dumas demanded Hudbay halt work at the mine until MCCN gives the project its blessing. At the Thompson forum, aboriginal lawyer Pam Palmater appeared to suggest similar demands may be made in relation to other mines. 'I'm not surrendering my sovereignty for any more beads and trinkets,' Palmater told the crowd. 'When mining companies come to our communities, the beads and trinkets of the past, jobs and training, that's over. We're talking about sharing management ownership of the resource that belong to both treaty partners.' Pettersen was sympathetic to Chief Dumas' cause. The MLA spoke of how he and his family have benefitted from the mining industry and said Chief Dumas simply wants those same opportunities for his people. But he told the Thompson Citizen that while he supports negotiations between MCCN and Hudbay, he does not favour any blockade of Lalor. Pettersen said he wants to learn more about Idle No More 'because it affects my riding big time.' 'The mines in Flin Flon, the mine in Snow Lake, or Lalor, is in my constituency,' he said. 'I have a lot of friends that work there. (Chief Dumas) had a demonstration there, what, two weeks ago. And it affects the people that are working there.' Within the Flin Flon constituency, Pettersen said, exist 'Third World conditions' on reserves. 'There's people there that are questioning why, after 50, 60 years, are we in the same state?' he said. Pettersen took the opportunity to praise Chief Dumas, who was in attendance, calling him a 'leader' and telling him, 'I believe in you.' He said Chief Dumas is pursuing 'hope and purpose' for his people and compared the effort to that of Martin Luther King, Jr., the famed African-American civil rights leader. Pettersen stressed to Chief Dumashow both the provincial government and Hudbay "want something to work out.' The forum, held at Thompson's USW Local 6166 Steel Centre on Feb. 16, was co-sponsored by Churchill MP Niki Ashton, the Thompson Neighbourhood Renewal Corp. and Idle No More - Northern Manitoba. _ With files from John Barker, Thompson Citizen
