Blockade goes up in Kash
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Blockade goes back up in Kash
By Teviah Moro
Timmins Daily Press
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
- 07:00
Local News - Members of the Kashechewan First
Nation have reinstated a blockade of the winter road running through their
community, demanding fair compensation from diamond miner De Beers for use
of their land.
Protesters started blocking the road again Friday at midnight saying they’re
not satisfied with De Beers’ offer of compensation.
“We had to do what we did,” Deputy Chief Rebecca Friday said.
Community members say De Beers’ offer to redirect profits made by a service
company that maintains and operates the winter road to area band councils
falls short of expectations.
“It’s just redirection of the money,” said Tommy Koosee, a member of the
Cree First Nation.
Koosee also said De Beers has a questionable track record in Africa, where
he said people were forced out of their villages by mining operations.
“It’s not going to happen here. That’s the bottom line.”
Tensions boiled over about two weeks ago when OPP officers began patrolling
the winter road and informed locals about Highway Traffic Act regulations
that require motorists to have licences, vehicle registration and
insurance.
Members of Kashechewan First Nation blocked the winter road, open about two
months of the year, to De Beers and OPP vehicles.
De Beers needs the road to continue to work on the Victor Project, which is
located about 90 km west of Attawapiskat.
Though an agreement was reached Jan. 26 to end the blockade, about 30
protesters have reinstated the blockade.
News that the First Nation rejected the terms of the agreement came as a
surprise to De Beers
“We did have a resolution,” said Linda Dorrington, manager of corporate and
public affairs.
Dorrington said the community is being compensated fairly.
“We understand that this road is on the reserve land. We believe we have
negotiated a fair sum to compensate Kashechewan.”
A memorandum of understanding was signed between De Beers, the service
company and James Bay coastal communities in August, she said.
It outlines safety concerns, establishes how the road will be operated, and
also expresses community support for De Beers’ use of the road, Dorrington
said.
There’s also an agreement between De Beers and the service company — which
is owned by Kashechewan, Fort Albany and Attawapiskat.
De Beers is paying fees to the service company for upgrade, construction and
management of the road, Dorrington said.
“The service company is required to distribute the profit to the three
communities.”
Recent negotiations called for those funds to go directly to the three band
councils instead of passing through the service company’s hands, Dorrington
said.
However, misunderstandings have hampered talks, she said.
“Essentially, what we have here is confusion.”
A meeting last Thursday — held before the public and broadcast over a local
radio station — wasn’t conducive to negotiations, Dorrington said.
De Beers and community leaders are meeting again Wednesday for more
talks.
Dorrington also said there’s a communication gap between community leaders
and members.
“We are trying to bridge that gap.”
Friday said leaders and members in Kashechewan are all on the same page
regarding the winter road — there’s no lack of
communication.