COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSION SPARKS PASSION OVER PROPOSED TAMARACK MINE
By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor
“The Tamarack proposed mine is a huge threat to our water, our culture, our way of life, our people, our wildlife, all of our resources that we depend on culturally, and spiritually. These gifts from the Creator are what’s at risk,” Mille Lacs Band Department of Natural Resources Kelly Applegate said with his opening remarks at a tribal community engagement session held on Monday, December 18 at the District II community center in Minisinaakwaang.
As the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reviews the Tamarack Mine proposal from Talon Metals, this listening and input session provided an opportunity for Mille Lacs Band members and employees to learn more and share their perspectives on the proposed Tamarack Mine and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s Water Over Nickel initiative. Attendees had the opportunity to share their perspectives and have their voices heard.
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe government continues to make strong progress in the commitment to actively protect the land, water, and community from the proposed Tamarack mine. Band leaders are working diligently across many fronts — legal, political, community, and public opinion — to ensure the Band has an equal voice and that the Band’s refusal to sacrifice water and resources for sulfide mining is clearly heard and understood.
In her opening statement Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin said the Band has committed to putting resources into their efforts to make sure the Band is in front of this moving forward. The Band has been actively meeting with state and federal government officials to make them aware of the Band’s position.
Mining companies have been touting the benefits of carbon capture and using that as leverage against opponents of mining. This is a form of greenwashing in the eyes of many as the man-made process of carbon capture also produces carbon.
The mining company Talon Metals submitted the proposed Tamarack mine draft environmental assessment worksheet to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in June of 2023. This is a long environmental review process.
Applegate explained that the original proposal from Talon suggested the mine would be “safe” and would be small with relatively no impact to the land and the nickel ore would be removed with precision. “But now all of the sudden they have applied for permits for expanding the area for further exploration within miles of the critical sites,” Applegate said. “And just like the playbook of most mines, the mine is growing. We want to make sure all of the environmental concerns are talked about and our community here, not just the Mille Lacs Band, but the community is able to voice their concerns. Our role as a tribal government is using those government-to-government tools in our tool box to for consultations.”
“Mining has always been a threat to our environment. Track history of sulfur nickel mining is not great. It’s always led to a compromised environment," Applegate said. "It is high risk. It’s dirty. It couldn’t be sited in a worst place. With all of this water that is interconnected through our pristine wetlands.”
Applegate explained the hydrology of the area is interconnected through the ecosystem. If there is one breech in the mining system, it will affect everything. “All of the resources that we depend on, those medicines, the manoomin could all be impacted and that is not fair to us. It’s not right for a company to come in and take our resources from us. It has happened to us before.[There] is a long history of failed American Indian policy, through the federal government, [and the] state. They came in and they took our land; they forced us onto reservations; they took away our [way of seasonal harvest to travel around] our geographical area. We are working to not have the mine permitted at all.”
The proposed mine is within 1.3 miles of Band member homes in District II. This is a concern for District II Representative Wendy Merrill and the Band members of the District. She encouraged Band members to share their thoughts and concerns and to let their voices be heard.
District I Representative Virgil Wind was present and further encouraged Band members, especially those whose opinions on other issues may have been divided, that “We come together,” on this issue. “My vision is that this become bigger than just the Mille Lacs Band,” Rep. Wind continued. “This isn’t just a Native fight. This isn’t just a Sandy Lake fight. This isn’t just a Rice Lake fight. This is 100 percent a fight for everybody… we need to make sure we are in this fight together… we need to engage everyone. We need to engage every tribe in Minnesota, we need to engage every state that is along the Mississippi River all the way down to the coast to make sure they know what could come their way.”
Rep. Wind added that sessions such as this are important to make sure everyone knows what is going on, where the resources are be utilized, and has everyone has a voice in the conversation. “If ever there was a time for us to come together it is now.
The input, experience, questions and concerns Band members and employees have about the proposed Tamarack Mine are critical in guiding how the Band continues the fight. If you were unable to attend the Tribal Community Engagement Session, you are encouraged to participate in this important conversation by submitting your comments and feedback related to the proposed Tamarack Mine to the Mille Lacs Band DNR. The perspectives shared will be incorporated into the conversations Band officials and leaders are having with Talon Metals and the Minnesota and Federal governments. It is important that all voices and perspectives are authentically shared in these interactions. Band member continued engagement and involvement with this issue is critical.
A court reporter and videographer were present during the December 18 session. A transcription and video will be made available for Band members as soon as it is available and Band members are encouraged to watch and share. Band officials will continue to share updates as they advance this work in 2024.
“Together, we can protect clean water, land, and cultural resources from the negative impacts of mining,” Applegate said.