| Friends of the Lubicon PO Box 444 Stn D, Etobicoke ON M9A 4X4 Tel: (416) 763-7500 Email: fol (at) tao (dot) ca www.lubicon.ca |
April 22, 2005
Lubicon Lake Indian Nation supporters have continued to send letters to Deep Well Oil and Gas, Surge Global Energy and Paradigm Oil and Gas urging them to deal with the Lubicon Nation’s concerns prior to attempting any further development of their major oil sands project in the heart of Lubicon Traditional Territory.
So far, the companies have not responded to these letters. But neither have they moved forward with attempts to build their project on the ground.
Below please find some excerpts from the many excellent letters sent to Deep Well.
Letters such as these from across Canada, Europe and the United States help demonstrate to the companies and governments involved that, as the old labour slogan goes, "an injury to one is an injury to all".
Details on who to write to and how to reach them are available at the end of the web page accessed here.
"While the provincial and federal governments are responsible for the lack of a land rights settlement, I believe that companies must in the meantime act responsibly towards the Lubicon Nation. Indeed, Canadians are increasingly expecting Canadian companies to consider the social and environmental impact of their activities. As a result, for the last two years The Globe and Mail Report on Business has published a corporate social responsibility assessment and ranking of major Canadian companies. In its March 2005 rating of the oil and gas sector, the Report included as one of its criteria the ways in which producers consult with indigenous peoples…. I believe that a responsible company would not proceed with operations in Lubicon traditional territory without the consent of the Lubicon. Please meet with them to discuss this situation. -- Moira Hutchinson, Toronto
"Please act responsibly to ensure the health and well being of both the land and the people. You have the wealth and the clout to do much, but we often get only one chance to do things right in situations such as this. Please do the honourable thing." -- Mary Katsuno.
"I am writing, as your neighbor, out of concern for the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation. I understand that your company is interested in extracting resources from land that has been cared for and held by the Lubicon people for centuries …. I certainly hope that your company would act responsibly and not proceed with operations in Lubicon Traditional Territory without the consultation and the consent of the Lubicon Nation. Here in Maine, many of us like to imagine that our Canadian neighbors possess not only spectacular tracts of wilderness and a rich cultural heritage, but also the wisdom to care-take both in the face of modern pressures." -- Mariana Tupper, Rockport, Maine.
"We urge you to work with the Lubicon First Nation and to stop immediately any operations on their land until consultation has taken place and the Lubicon People give their consent. If this consent is not given we expect your Company to act responsibly and to cede their operations completely on Lubicon Land." -- Jan and Ria Heynen, Ottawa.
"KWIA, support group for indigenous peoples, is writing to express her concern in regard to your unwillingness to come to the table and make a fair arrangement with the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation BEFORE you begin exploitation of their lands. People across Canada and around the world
share the Lubicon's concerns, and are watching how your company deals with the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation." -- Martina Roels, Belgium
"Keep in mind that the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation has unceded aboriginal title to the lands and resources in the Sawn Lake area where your proposed Deep Well development is located …. We share their concerns. We expect your companies to act responsibly and not to proceed with operations in Lubicon Traditional Territory without consultation and the consent of the Lubicon Nation. We will continue to monitor the company’s actions in this matter." -- Anna Harlowe, Issues Coordinator, Ecology Action Center of Southern California
"The only way that Deep Well Oil and Gas can act responsibly and ethically is to not precede with operations in Lubicon Traditional Territory without consultations and the consent of the Lubicon Nation, who have unceded aboriginal title to the lands and resource in the Swan Lake area. I will continue to remain informed about Deep Well’s activity in the area." -- Anet Henrikso, Montreal
"The Lubicon Cree in Alberta have been striving for over sixty years to protect lands that they can legitimately claim under ‘aboriginal title’. Faced with the extensive industrialization in their territory, their prime concern has been and remains survival politically, socially and economically as distinct people. Their unique rights are enshrined in the Canadian Constitution (1982). To violate their constitutional rights is no different than showing contempt for the Canadian Constitution …. From your vantage point, you may feel your company is not culpable in violating the Lubicon Cree people’s aboriginal rights, since the Government of Alberta, by leasing land to you, passes on authority to you. That is not a valid explanation. Your company AND the Government of Alberta are showing contempt for the Lubicon Cree rights, AND the Constitution of Canada." -- Roy Piepenburg, Edmonton
"It wasn’t many years ago that Daishowa, a forestry company, decided to harvest trees on Lubicon land without any agreement. It seems as if people think they can ignore the rights of Aboriginal people without any consequences. I expect your company to act responsibly and not to proceed with operations in Lubicon Traditional Territory without consultation and the consent of the Lubicon First Nation. I will be watching developments in this matter." -- Lynn Jondreville, Toronto
fol-request at masses.tao.ca