The following is a report on the meeting between George White and the First Nations. I cover much of the discussion in detail, as I feel it answers many questions I have been receiving from the community. Many topics were covered over a two-hour time period and I have tried to consolidate the information as much as I could. For the most part the content is in my own words and I indicate where I am directly quoting.

I wish that everyone concerned about this mine could have been at the meeting to ask questions and witness discussion but the meeting was only opened to the public at the last minute. Fortunately we did have many people from the community that represented the overall concerns of the general public.

Today at 1:30pm, George White, the owner of Frontenac Ventures Corporation, with his lawyer, Neil Smitheman and different representatives of his company, met with the Ardoch Algonquin First Nations and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, in an open meeting to the public. Originally, Mr. White’s lawyer had expected this meeting to be closed but the First Nations told him that they wanted the community to have the opportunity to participate in the discussions. Two representatives of the Crown, Tony Scarr and Pam Sangster, were present and acting on behalf of the Ministry of Mines and Northern Development.

After an overview of what FVC expected to do in the meeting, the First Nations lawyer, Chris Reid, told them that the First Nations would be starting the meeting with a prayer, which is their custom, lead by Bob Lovelace. After Mr. Lovelace offered a prayer, Mr. Reid asked for the purpose of the meeting to be clarified. If it were a meeting of consultation then, the process would require a consultation protocol. He also stressed that the First Nations had not been consulted about the exploration that had already occurred so the procedures would need to start back at square one. It was pointed out later in the meeting that ‘consultation’ was not having something approved by the government, proceeding with an action and then coming back and explaining what had transpired. Consultation takes place before any action is committed. Mr. Reid also expressed his frustration that he has tried to repeatedly communicate with the Province of Ontario through the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, but they would not get back to him.

FVC stated that they just wanted to show their slide presentation and answer any concerns that the First Nations might have. The Crown then explained that they were not there to discuss legal procedures or land claims issues. Mr. Reid made clear that this was not a “lands claim” issue as the land was in fact Algonquin territory. (Mr. Lovelace later explained that the Royal Proclamation of 1763 stated that in order for the Crown to use land or permit others to use land, they must have a bill sale from the First Nations. No such bill exists for the land that FVC has claimed and explored, because it was never sold.)

After much deliberation, FVC was allowed to show their presentation. They explained that FVC is an exploration company, not a mining company and that their environmental footprint would be as light as possible. According to them, modern mining explorations were more stringent than old procedures. There were new environmental laws that they must follow and that they did not want to “piss people off” by causing environmental damage.

FVC then went on to explain Phase One (6-12 months) would be about re-drilling 200 pre-existing holes that were 1 3/8 of an inch in diameter. They claim that any environmental impact would be low and temporary and would not affect groundwater because the land is sitting on the Robertson Sheer Zone. FVC claims that our lakes already have uranium in them, as the mineral leaches from rocks.

FVC spoke about the economic benefits to the community, saying that there would be 500-600 new jobs created of various descriptions and a financial growth for Sharbot Lake of $100,000,000. They suggested that Sharbot Lake could then build its own hospital, community and recreational centers.

Native burial grounds were specifically addressed in the FVC presentation. Apparently there would be no drilling near any traditional burial sites, as they recognized that this would be an issue for the First Nations.

George White also offered to make a $10,000 donation to the Ardoch Algonquin First Nations and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations for health and education services. After the FVC finished their presentation, Co-Chief Randy Cota, said he was insulted by Mr. Whites offer. Chief Doreen Davis explained that they are not about money or material possessions; the First Nations were about the land.

Throughout the discussion there were many questions asked by Mr. Reid and the lawyer for Mr. White. These were directed to one of the three parties present, FVC, First Nations or the Crown:

-Mr. Reid asked about two quotes in the media, one from the CBC and the other from the Globe and Mail.
-CBC had spoken about Mr. White only dealing with Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations, but not the Ardoch Algonquin First Nations. The lawyer for Mr. White clarified that he would be speaking with both groups.
-The second quote in the Globe and Mail referred to a comment that Mr. White had made about whether or not his company should employ the same sort of paramilitary techniques used in Africa to deal with this situation. Mr. White’s lawyer spoke about the quote as a metaphor and how sometimes people say things in the heat of the moment that they later regret.

-Mr. Reid asked if FVC would be making any attempts to access the claimed land though the back of the property? FVC answered “No”.

-Mr. Reid asked the FVC if anyone, within the government agency, who had granted them a permit to explore, explained the needed to consult the First Nations before preceding with any exploration. FVC answered “No”. According to the mining act, they had the right to claim and explore.
Part way into the discussion, FVC held the position that they were caught between two worlds and two laws. Towards the end of the talks they stated that they wanted the situation to be resolved quickly and asked the Crown to begin the process of consultation the First Nations were asking for, as they wanted to proceed with exploration. After some discussion, the representative of the Crown said that he would take the First Nations request for consultation back to the Crown. Mr. Reid once again stressed that he had tried to make contact with the Ministry for Aboriginal Affairs but he had not received any contact from them. He also asked why MNR was present at the meeting instead of Aboriginal Affairs. The Crown responded by saying that “prospecting and staking are not in conflict to the interests of Aboriginal people.” This comment met with many requests from the room to repeat exactly what he just said. The representative then went on to attempt to qualify his statement.

-FVC asked the First Nations if they were using Mohawk Warriors at the protest site. Co-Chief Cota answered this directly, by talking about the definition of a Mohawk Warrior. He said that every person at the site, warrior or not, was not armed nor would be armed in the future.

There were many other questions asked by the public, as well as the First Nations, directed to Mr. White.

*After the presentation John Kittle pointed out that at the beginning of FVC’s presentation the company stressed they were only an exploration company and their environmental impact to the area would be minimal but much of the presentation was about the benefits of an actual mine.

*Chief Davis asked about the roads that were on the claimed property and if FVC had been granted a permit for them. She was told by a representative of FVC that they were not required to do so, as they were pre-existing roads that had been improved upon. Chief Cota went on to speak about how the roads had already caused environmental damage and had affected trap lines that had been used for generations.

*Mireille Lapointe said that she was not an engineer and that she could not use their terminology but that people knew about communities such as Elliot Lake and they were not moving to places like these, they were moving away or dying. She then when on to say, “I don’t mean to offend you Mr. White but, do you think we are stupid?” This question brought on a huge round of applause.

*There were others within the group who expressed the lack of support from the community and told FVC, in so many words, to cut their losses and leave.

Bob Lovelace made a presentation to the FVC. Some of the points he made were as follows. This is the Algonquins’ home. Unlike the settlers, they do not have any other place to go to. The FVC may see the Algonquins as poor but they are abundant with what nature provides them. The Algonquins are not a material culture. They are a knowledge-based culture. He also stated that the “Algonquin people are the most threatened species in the Ottawa Valley.”

Mr. Lovelace went on to tell a native parable about turtle soup to illustrate why the First Nations or the community could not follow the FVC’s vision for a mine in this region. When he was done his story, the lawyer for FVC immediately asked Mr. Lovelace if there was any possibility of a compromise. Mr. Lovelace answered by saying that at this time FVC does not have the support of the community.

Chief Davis then went on to speak about the Algonquins’ deliberate decision not to create a reservation. Instead they chose to live and work with the settlers, building a community. She expressed that she could not support the exploration for the mine as it was a roll of the dice that she could not take for her people.

The mayor for Central Frontenac, Janet Godowsky said that if FVC was looking to resolve this issue quickly she could not see this being done. In order for counsel to propose development in the region, they had to submit proposals that had met environmental legislation and that took many, many months. How would something as sensitive as exploration for uranium be permitted so quickly?

FVC then went on to say that if they were not permitted to proceed with their plans that they would be looking for compensation for the money they had already put out for the project. First Nations responded by saying that they were the ones that made the mistake of not consulting with all of the stakeholders.

A local resident asked if the local population would be compensated by FVC for the destruction of their property? He also pointed out that talking about the effects of exploration without including the effects of a mine is like only speaking about the paddle but not the canoe it is used for.

The meeting was ended with two further questions.

Mr. Reid to FVC: Will you attempt to come on the land and proceed with exploration. Answer: “No”

FVC to the First Nations: Will you leave the land? Answer: “No.”

Disclaimer:

You are solely responsible for your use of the contents in this report. You should not rely on the contents as legal information nor as authoritative. Users should verify the accuracy and applicability of any content before acting on it.

CCAMU or its individual members, do not guarantee, or make any warranty, express or implied, that the content is current, accurate, complete or reliable. CCAMU or its individual members, is not responsible for any damage, however caused, which results directly or indirectly from your use of the content of this report. CCAMU or its individual members, assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the content of this report, whatsoever.