Mining exec’s comments set relations back 60 years

There’s a dust-up on the horizon in northern Ontario. The shot was fired when a mining industry representative took aim on First Nation rights. The bullet came in the form of comments made at a recent mining symposium by Solid Gold Resources CEO Darryl Stretch.

Stretch referred to First Nations as “hostile third-party governments,” frustrations stemming, in part, from being blocked from gold exploration near Lake Abitibi due to an injunction filed by Wahgoshig First Nation. He also insisted that “third parties, such as industry groups, do not have a legal obligation to consult Aboriginal groups.”

Burial and archeological sites in the area are located where drilling exploration had been taking place.  Wahgoshig First Nation and Solid Gold Resources have been battling in the courts since last year. Wahgoshig filed an injunction against the company to stop exploratory work because there had been no consultation. They wanted the drilling stopped and studies done in the area to ensure protection of heritage sites. The injunction was granted on Jan. 3 of this year.

This fight is happening in the midst of changes to Ontario’s Mining Act to take effect on April 1, 2013, which will require Aboriginal consultation. The “soft” launch kicked off on Nov. 1.
Stretch has been making his opinion known for quite some time. In March of this year, at a mining symposium in Toronto, a group, calling themselves Mining United, which includes Stretch as a member, spoke out about their dissatisfaction with the changes. In particular, they were upset that prospectors would no longer be allowed to use the ‘free entry’ system, and instead will have to file plans with the province and First Nations. Stretch told a national newspaper, “It’s not my obligation to go find arrowheads for these people. Period.”

He also had other concerns.

“If they don’t like you, you don’t work. What kind of deal is that? Because I didn’t do it right, the way the Indians wanted me to? Because I didn’t give them money? Because I didn’t beg their permission to go? It’s just ridiculous, the whole concept.”

Stretch has not been quiet about the court injunction, and the fight to overturn it. In a Nov. 6 news release posted on the Solid Gold Resources Web site, he stated, “I see no basis in the facts of this case for an imposition of a duty to consult on Solid Gold. If the Crown wishes to delegate operational aspects of its duty it must establish a legislative or regulatory scheme. The mining act does not presently contain such a scheme.”

But, just a few weeks before that, Stretch stated his resistance to the mining act changes and the duty to consult Aboriginal groups. In an Oct. 19 news release, he said, “These regulations result in a total transfer of all natural resources to the control of hostile, third-party governments. It is my opinion that Canadians must do everything possible to stop this ill-conceived, race-based initiative.”

There was also backlash after the prospector’s symposium that was held in Sudbury, Ont. in early November. Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways had representatives from its Natural Resources attend the conference, who were incensed by a presentation made by Stretch. Soon after the event, the community sent out a media release and claimed Stretch’s presentation was inappropriate and included slides of “offensive cartoons, absurd comparisons, and irrelevant quotes all of which ironically conveyed the archaic principles of the Solid Gold Resources Corporation.”
Wahgoshig First Nation is under the umbrella of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. In their media release, the two called for the province to withdraw its support of radical mining groups, considering the comments being reported in the media. Grand Chief Harvey Yesno stated, “ Representatives of this radical association of junior mining groups [Mining United] has waged a racist media campaign against the Wahgoshig First Nation, who are taking a legal and principled position to defend their Treaty and Aboriginal rights, as well as ensuring Ontario meets its obligations on the ‘duty to consult’ in good faith.”
Mushkegowuk Council also supports Wahgoshig and NAN. Grand Chief Stan Louttit was appalled when he read Stretch’s comments reported by media. He said, “Remarks like that, take the industry back to the 50’s. Well, it wasn’t right then, and it’s not right now.”
The case between Wahgoshig and Solid Gold will be back in court in the New Year.