Grand Chief: "We are committed to protecting our environment and our
treaty rights."
NEMASKA, Eeyou Istchee, Feb. 5, 2013 /CNW/ - The Grand Council of the
Crees (Eeyou Istchee), the Cree Regional Authority and the Cree Nation
of Mistissini today filed an intervention in the legal proceedings
recently commenced by Strateco Resources against the Quebec Minister of
the Environment.
Strateco's legal action seeks to force the Minister to issue a decision
concerning the authorization of the Matoush advanced uranium
exploration project. Strateco has also asked the Court to declare void
one of the conditions recommended by COMEX, the environmental review
panel established by the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
(JBNQA), that Strateco demonstrate the social acceptability of its
project by concluding a written agreement with the Cree Nation of
Mistissini.
In their intervention, the Crees seek full rights of participation in
the proceedings, and urge the Court to dismiss Strateco's request in
its entirety.
"The importance of social acceptability of proposed development projects
in Eeyou Istchee is an essential aspect of the nation-to-nation
relationship between the Cree Nation and Quebec," said Grand Chief Dr.
Matthew Coon Come. "Strateco's legal action represents a fundamental
challenge to this principle, and to our treaty rights, particularly the
JBNQA. We are committed to protecting our environment and our treaty
rights, for current and future generations."
"The position of the Cree Nation of Mistissini, and the Cree Nation as a
whole, is clear: we are opposed to uranium mining in all its forms in
the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory," Mistissini Chief Richard
Shecapio stated. "We are not prepared to assume the grave risks that
uranium mining presents, for thousands of future generations."
The first court appearance in the proceedings is scheduled for Friday
February 8, 2013 in Quebec City.
SOURCE: The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)
