Comparisons Across Borders: South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin Cases Highlighting Mining on Native Lands

Transcription

1 Comparisons Across Borders: South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin Cases Highlighting Mining on Native Lands Sam Sklover, Nick Woboril, Alyssa Brenner

2 Uranium Mining in South Dakota Sioux Territory 20% of total electrical generation in United States comes from nuclear power. Nuclear power requires uranium ore. Uranium ore mining comes with strong environmental cost due to uranium extraction, radioactive effects, thermal pollution, etc.

3 Nuclear Reactor Sites in US type=jpg&process=html%2cjs%2clink%2ctarget%2cbinhex

4 South Dakota Sioux Reservation Land Sioux01.png?token=YbOcIlLBQz&mbox=INBOX&uid=10495&number=2&type=image&subtype=png&process=html%2Cjs %2Clink%2Ctarget%2Cbinhex

5 Lessons from the Sioux Herein lies another paradox: The natives want sovereignty so they can live their lives how they so choose, but sovereignty also requires money to be gained, but money can (mostly) only be acquired through not living how they want to live, but by assimilating more into modern American culture. Simply, they must live like Americans if they want to live like the Sioux. Sam Slover, ES 600 Bad River Capsotne student

6 Ojibwe and the Iron Range, Minnesota Leech Lake Reservation, Superior Chippewa Band Ojibwe, Iron range of Minnesota Deposits were discovered in 1866, noted as the largest deposits in the United States formed mid Pre-Cambrian Period Ore used to make steel, copper and gold amongst other minerals discovered in Minnesota 9 taconite mines and production facilities in Minnesota and Upper Michigan that is responsible for almost all iron production in the US

7 Ojibwe Territory Mining Background Acid-mine drainage, major sulfates contamination of water ways. Rice harvest, clean water and air Mines seen as huge economic stimulus, but studies have shown rampant boom-and-bust cycles actually hurt the economy in the long run. Initial boost in employment followed by abandonment with decrease for need in man power Streamlined mining legislation Economic considerations appear to be a growing force resulting in legislative policy changes designed not for environmental protection but economic development.

8 Nick Woboril personal collection. Iron Range Mine

9 Reclaimed Hawkins Mine Site Nick Woboril personal collection.

10 Crandon Mine, WI Mole Lake Sakaogan Chippewa (Ojibwe) Forest County Potawatami 1975 Exxon Minerals Co. determines a large copperzinc sulfide deposit is located near Crandon WI 1985 Exxon submits Notification of Intent to mine the area 1993 Interest spikes again from Crandon Mining Company (created by Exxon and Rio Algom, Ltd.) 2003 Ojibwe and Potawatami tribes end struggle definitively by purchasing the land with funds raised mainly through casino revenue, $16.5 million

11 Proposed Mine Site

12 Lessons from Crandon Mine Case Unity inter/intra-tribal cooperation, joint goal amongst tribal members, sportsmen, and environmentalist Outreach and Knowledge Use of internet outreach was key, reaching concerned individuals outside of the U.S. Policy 1983 Native treaty rights upheld in Federal Court, 1995 EPA granted Ojibwe the right to designate their own water quality standards on the reservation, Forest County Potawatomi Reservation Class 1 air designation, political ammo to fight, 1997 Mining Moratorium Bill passed in WI

13 Sold!

14 Conclusions Economics vs. Environment Culture vs. Culture Power of money/state vs. power of rights/voice/grassroots movements Continuity in territory, point-source pollution without jurisdiction of point-source land

15 Economics vs. Environment

16 Culture vs. Culture The need to adopt American ways of life in order to preserve native ways of life Ideologies of culture often accused for problems and conflict, misunderstanding Property beliefs, continuity in territory and different policy translation

17 Any Questions???