At first we thought Rio Tinto might be flying a Chinese flag (China owns more of Rio Tinto than any other entity) but a zoom lens revealed that another distress flag was flying above Eagle Rock (one flew over the site on July 4 weekend). It’s a sign that, while Rio Tinto and the DNRE continue to break the law, the public is still keeping watch.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged america, american flag, distress signal, Eagle Mine, Eagle Rock, Kennecott, military, Rio Tinto
published in today’s Huffington Post, by Cynthia Pryor. . .
The camp at Eagle Rock
Around the world, indigenous communities are defending their homelands and sacred sites from mining companies with more urgency than ever. With the fictional Avatar receiving so much media attention, it’s important to realize that very real battles between indigenous communities protecting sacred sites and corporations infringing on them are happening in the real world. And not just in exotic corners of the world, but right here in America, in the Great Lakes, where millions get their drinking water.
Rio Tinto has from the beginning played out the role of the big bad mining company in its plans to mine nickel and copper in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Continue reading
From TV6 News:
Posted in Public Land
Tagged DNRE, Eagle Mine, Eagle Rock, EPA, Kennecott, public land, Rio Tinto, Salmon Trout River, Yellow Dog Plains
Crank up the volume on this – it was pretty windy!
Concerns about protecting religious freedom intersected with the desire to safeguard public land access when approximately 100 concerned citizens held a Forum Tuesday evening, Apr. 27, in Marquette, in response to Rio Tinto-Kennecott’s (RT-K) start of construction on a nickel and copper mine 25 miles west of Marquette.
“Everything that we do is non-violent, peaceful. We just want to bring awareness and education to the public and ourselves in this process,” said Big Bay resident Cynthia Pryor, who was recently arrested for trespassing on public land leased by Kennecott.
Read the rest of this article at Keweenaw Now.
Posted in Public Land
Tagged DNRE, Eagle Mine, Eagle Rock, EPA, Kennecott, Native American, public land, Rio Tinto, sacred site, Salmon Trout River, treaty rights, Yellow Dog Plains
According to today’s Mining Journal, Kennecott plans to erect a fence around Eagle Rock and public land and start trying to require people to ask permission from Kennecott to enter and only enter when escorted by Kennecott security.
Over a week after arresting Cynthia Pryor for being on public land, Kennecott “expect[s] to soon release a policy on public access to the site.” Kennecott’s gotten everything it wants so far in the UP, so I guess it figured it could get away with arresting people on public land it still has no legal title to and didn’t even have posted when Pryor was arrested.
We also heard a report that Kennecott is hauling fencing equipment up to Eagle Rock. Continue reading
Posted in Native American Rights, Public Land
Tagged DNRE, Eagle Mine, Eagle Rock, EPA, Kennecott, Native American, public land, Rio Tinto, sacred site, Salmon Trout River, Yellow Dog Plains
Another cold night on the Yellow Dog Plains (low 20s, we’re told) – everyone awoke to sparkles of frost on the ground.
Laughing by the Fire
Yesterday afternoon and evening was filled with camaraderie and laughter as new faces arrived to pay respect, pray, discuss the situation and show support – mostly to tell jokes.
Nighttime on the plains was quiet and peaceful, as the moon shown brightly over Eagle Rock. But, morning was met with disruptive noise as Kennecott continued to clear land and prepare their facilities a little before 7am.
Chris Chosa, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
“I’m going to sit out here until they decide to leave…and if I’m not out here, I’ll make sure somebody else is. ” says Chris Chosa of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.
Meanwhile, Kennecott has still not notified the public as to its self-proclaimed polices regarding access to our public lands (not that they have authority to tell us what to do); today three fishermen stopped by on their four wheelers, and yesterday a woman passed by exploring on her bicycle and curved around Eagle Rock, passing Kennecott’s security complex. Saturday, a couple drove three hours from Calumet to hike the well-loved plains and show their respect to Eagle Rock. Kennecott’s “no trespassing” signs surprised them.
Kennecott guards continue to wave from a distance, and the ceremonial fire still burns strong.
Sweetgrass
Posted in Native American Rights, Public Land
Tagged DNRE, Eagle Mine, Eagle Rock, EPA, Kennecott, Native American, public land, Rio Tinto, sacred site, Salmon Trout River, Yellow Dog Plains
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