November 6, 2007 Update: “KI Taking a Stand to Protect Homelands”

PRESS RELEASE
November 6, 2007

From: Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Ontario
Update: “KI Taking a Stand to Protect Homelands”

As of Tuesday, November 6, 2007 there has been no response received from Platinex to confirm whether the community position of no entry is respected or whether a new approach is being developed. However, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug was and continues to be prepared since November 2, 2006 to enforce its community position. Also the KI trappers, hunters and fishermen are still at the Nemeigusabins Lake Customary Homelands carrying out their customary livelihood pursuits. These pursuits on the land will be carried out throughout the winter and into next summer as they have been since time immemorial.Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug has made a decision that any talks regarding the Nemegusabins Lake Customary Homelands, the site of Platinex’s proposed exploration and drilling, will be done ONLY between the membership of KI and the Ontario Government. There are three (3) items which KI needs to have addressed:

1. the KI Treaty Land Entitlement,
2. respect of territorial integrity the revoking of licenses and permits given by the Province on these lands, and
3. compensation of KI’s financial cost related to the court process.

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug would like to encourage the area First Nations and other First Nations to stand beside us in support of the protection of customary lands and the traditional pursuits, which we still carry out as passed down to us from our ancestors.

We will be providing updates on a regular basis to inform all contacts, First Nations and other Organizations as new developments are definitive and confirmed regarding the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Customary Homelands.

For further information contact:
Samuel McKay, Councillor (807) 537 2263