Renewed Mining Interest in WI’s Penokee Mountains Sparks Response from Bad River Tribal Attorney

Renewed Mining Interest in WI’s Penokee Mountains Sparks Response from Bad River Tribal Attorney

Philomena Kebec, attorney
for the Bad River Band of Lake
Superior Ojibwe, responds to state
of WI plans to move forward with
legislation that may allow mining
6 miles upstream from the reservation.
Philomena2Frame

WIvoices.org’s August 2012 interview with Bad River Tribal Chairman Mike Wiggins Jr. is receiving increased traffic due to the anticipated revival of the failed 2012 mining legislation. Relaxing mining regulations is a high priority for some Wisconsin lawmakers as the opening of the 2013 legislative session nears, as well as for former mining equipment company CEO Tim Sullivan, who believes that mining regulations in Wisconsin are “too restrictive”. In addition, Governor Walker recently told reporters “We’re going to look to make a series of reasonable changes and improvements if warranted as long
as they ultimately lead to a mine in the state of Wisconsin.”

 

 

However, Chairman Wiggins claims the nearby proposed iron ore site
in the Penokee Mountains is “unmineable” for numerous health, environmental, cultural, and legal reasons. His interview can be viewed here in its entirety.

Kebec had this to say about tribal plans to educate the public:

On January 7 and 8, 2013, citizens of the Bad River Band will be visiting the Milwaukee area to raise awareness of the proposal to site an open-pit mine in the Penokee Hills and the threat the project poses to human health. The tentative agenda includes starting with a pipe ceremony, and songs from Bad River. Mike Wiggins, Jr., Chairman of Bad River, will start off the discussion, with other speakers to be announced, followed by Q & A.

Kebec detailed tribal plans in this 1/3/13 press release.

See WIvoices.org’s Reference Page for the most current information on metallic mining in Wisconsin.

One Responseto “Renewed Mining Interest in WI’s Penokee Mountains Sparks Response from Bad River Tribal Attorney”

  1. catherine miller says:

    I, and many friends, will stand with the bad river tribe to help prevent this atrocity from happening.This mine will be an environmental hazard and will only benefit those on top…as per usual!

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  1. Bad River Band: Penokee strip mine “too cataclysmic for our tribe to endure” | Peace & Bread - [...] See the brilliant WIvoices site for this post on the Bad River Band’s work to educate the state on…

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