ROBERTSVILLE, ON: Prayer for the land
November 7th, 2008
CPTnet
7 November 2008
ROBERTSVILLE, ON: Prayer for the land
by Joel Klassen
Amid pouring rain one day, and in brilliant sun the next, dozens of people gathered at the proposed Robertsville uranium mine site in Algonquin territory on the weekend of 25-26 October to pray for the land. The Ardoch Algonquin First Nation had called for the universal days of prayer, from people of all faith traditions, to express once again their opposition to mining exploration by Frontenac Ventures Corporation (FVC) on their lands.
Ardoch leader Mitch Shewell led a talking circle, and Quakers, a United Church minister, and Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) members led other prayer and quiet times. Others across the country and the world contributed their prayers from where they were.
Co-chief Mireille Lapointe said, “Our world is facing massive destruction. People across the world are working in small groups like ours to prevent and to heal the damage. I recently heard it said that we are reaching a critical mass of people who are acting to stop the destruction—that we are on the verge of turning in a new direction. I believe that.”
Retired Ardoch chief Bob Lovelace had asked FVC President George White to open the gate to the mine site so that the prayers could be held on the land where the drilling is proposed. White refused, so the group gathered on the road across from the gate. A few pickup trucks, ostensibly belonging to FVC, parked behind the gate for a time, and some dirt recently piled in front prevented motorized access to it. Other than that, the group saw no sign of activity inside the site. Locals say that it seems Frontenac Ventures pulled all their employees out for the winter some time ago.
The rain did not stop for more than fifteen minutes all day on Saturday, and at times poured down heavily. Group members warmed themselves around a large fire fueled by wood supplied by supportive neighbours. Plastic tarps afforded some protection from the elements, and people buoyed their spirits with soup and drinks heated on Coleman stoves.
CPT Aboriginal Justice Team member Haven Downing said, “I noticed that the energy shifted from one side of the road to the other—from the defensiveness of Frontenac Ventures and their piled up gravel to the gentle strength of the prayers as insistent as the rain.”
The Ardoch, together with many other people fighting against mining exploration at Robertsville, continue to reject mining exploration on the territory they claim. Talks on this issue with the Ontario government broke down in August when the government refused to accept that one outcome of the dispute might be that no exploratory drilling occurs.
7 November 2008
ROBERTSVILLE, ON: Prayer for the land
by Joel Klassen
Amid pouring rain one day, and in brilliant sun the next, dozens of people gathered at the proposed Robertsville uranium mine site in Algonquin territory on the weekend of 25-26 October to pray for the land. The Ardoch Algonquin First Nation had called for the universal days of prayer, from people of all faith traditions, to express once again their opposition to mining exploration by Frontenac Ventures Corporation (FVC) on their lands.
Ardoch leader Mitch Shewell led a talking circle, and Quakers, a United Church minister, and Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) members led other prayer and quiet times. Others across the country and the world contributed their prayers from where they were.
Co-chief Mireille Lapointe said, “Our world is facing massive destruction. People across the world are working in small groups like ours to prevent and to heal the damage. I recently heard it said that we are reaching a critical mass of people who are acting to stop the destruction—that we are on the verge of turning in a new direction. I believe that.”
Retired Ardoch chief Bob Lovelace had asked FVC President George White to open the gate to the mine site so that the prayers could be held on the land where the drilling is proposed. White refused, so the group gathered on the road across from the gate. A few pickup trucks, ostensibly belonging to FVC, parked behind the gate for a time, and some dirt recently piled in front prevented motorized access to it. Other than that, the group saw no sign of activity inside the site. Locals say that it seems Frontenac Ventures pulled all their employees out for the winter some time ago.
The rain did not stop for more than fifteen minutes all day on Saturday, and at times poured down heavily. Group members warmed themselves around a large fire fueled by wood supplied by supportive neighbours. Plastic tarps afforded some protection from the elements, and people buoyed their spirits with soup and drinks heated on Coleman stoves.
CPT Aboriginal Justice Team member Haven Downing said, “I noticed that the energy shifted from one side of the road to the other—from the defensiveness of Frontenac Ventures and their piled up gravel to the gentle strength of the prayers as insistent as the rain.”
The Ardoch, together with many other people fighting against mining exploration at Robertsville, continue to reject mining exploration on the territory they claim. Talks on this issue with the Ontario government broke down in August when the government refused to accept that one outcome of the dispute might be that no exploratory drilling occurs.
