Attawapiskat residents block road to northern Ontario diamond mine- Feb 5 2013

[taco.vidal]

I wonder how the First Nations people employed at the mine feel about this.

Published Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 3:44PM EST
ATTAWAPISKAT, Ont. -- De Beers Canada says a group of Attawapiskat residents is blockading the main winter road leading to the company's Victor diamond mine in northern Ontario.
De Beers says the blockade began Monday evening on a road the company uses to move in supplies like fuel, machine parts and equipment that would be too heavy to fly in.
Spokesman Tom Ormsby says the blockade has not yet impacted the mine's operations, but has forced De Beers to cease operations on the road.


Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/attawap...#ixzz2K5MiIucz

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[burn_this_city]

I'm no fan of De Beers, but Spence is a crook, how many millions has De Beers pumped into that community?

[WhiteTiger]

Doesn't De Beers pump a ton of money into Attawapiskat? Isn't this really just biting the hand that feeds you?

[Resolute 14]

Still think blockades should be considered a violation of the treaties, and therefore grounds for its termination.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

Doesn't De Beers pump a ton of money into Attawapiskat? Isn't this really just biting the hand that feeds you?

They do. They contribute towards housing, towards training to work in the mines, royalties, all kinds of things.

Substantial amount as well.

[Minnie]

Just when you think this can't get any more stupid.....it does.

[Zulu29]

Biting the hand that feeds.

[Daradon]

Pretty much thinking the same thing everything else is here. Was going to ask, uhhh, doesn't the tribe earn a ton of money off this mine?

Man, what is up with this tribe?

[Daradon]

'The mine -- 90 kilometres west of Attawapiskat -- has a large aboriginal workforce, but First Nation has complained that its share of the bounty from the mine isn't getting back to the community.'

If this is true, than they may have a point, but I have a real hard timing believing anything coming out of there right now.

'A representative of the Attawapiskat community could not be reached for comment.'

Oh, surprise surprise...

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by Daradon

'The mine -- 90 kilometres west of Attawapiskat -- has a large aboriginal workforce, but First Nation has complained that its share of the bounty from the mine isn't getting back to the community.'

No, it's not. It's clearly going somewhere else and Spence and her lovah aren't telling.

[CaptainCrunch]

I think they're getting something like 33 million bucks a year over the last three years, I read that somewhere.

Frankly I'd go out there with a megaphone, clear my throat and state, we've put a stop payment on the checks and everyone is fired.

Questions?

This is the dumbest blockade yet.

[Regular_John]

Just to play devil's advocate for a second... is it possible this blockade is being initiated by members of the band separate of the chief/leadership?

'A representative of the Attawapiskat community could not be reached for comment.'

If this were an official band action I'm thinking the press release/letter of intent would have been released at the same time they blockade went up.

But I'm just spitballing here, really too early to say what this is about.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I think they're getting something like 33 million bucks a year over the last three years, I read that somewhere.

Who are these people doing the blockade? Are these the same people who are living in unheated shacks on the reserve? I mean, these people should be confronting the chief for not spreading the free wealth they already get from the govt. and the money from DeBeers apparently.
They're like an annoying child who just wants attention.

[AR_Six]

^In which case you would expect the Band to say "this action was not condoned or sanctioned by us", not "no comment".

I would expect that the people doing this simply have their own ideas as to what "their share" is.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by AR_Six

^In which case you would expect the Band to say "this action was not condoned or sanctioned by us", not "no comment".

I would expect that the people doing this simply have their own ideas as to what "their share" is.

I agree, if they are sitting around in those crappy shacks thinking we should go blockade our second biggest sugar daddy and tell them we want more, they should be more specific on what more of what they want.
Maybe the chief wants his and hers Escalades.

[mykalberta]

Is this road on their reserve? If it is, then I support this 100% Where is Facebook so I can go on a big rant on how I am finally in support of inm

Of course going after Spence would be the logical thing to do if they are in fact blocking it because of...

but First Nation has complained that its share of the bounty from the mine isn't getting back to the community

DeBeers should release all money that has gone to the band since the mine's start to put the ball in the band councils court so they can then account for all the money to their electorate.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Is this road on their reserve? If it is, then I support this 100% Where is Facebook so I can go on a big rant on how I am finally in support of inm

Of course going after Spence would be the logical thing to do if they are in fact blocking it because of...



DeBeers should release all money that has gone to the band since the mine's start to put the ball in the band councils court so they can then account for all the money to their electorate.

I think that the money has already been released to the band, and good luck getting an accounting of where it goes.

[DuffMan]

DeBeers should threaten to hire auditors to show what happens to the money they give.

[AR_Six]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

DeBeers should threaten to hire auditors to show what happens to the money they give.

Auditors aren't money detectives. There have to actually be books and records to audit.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

Who are these people doing the blockade? Are these the same people who are living in unheated shacks on the reserve? I mean, these people should be confronting the chief for not spreading the free wealth they already get from the govt. and the money from DeBeers apparently.
They're like an annoying child who just wants attention.

Well if that is the case they're likely going to be much more successful in having their voices heard and demands met if they succeed in turning off the flow of cash to the band. Confronting a corrupt chief isn't going to get you much, and it certainly isn't going to get you a national audience.