02 June 2007
boreal treasures: diamonds and tamarack
Photos: tamarack forest beside Butler Creek, Moose River tributary;Moosonee Transportation Line tugs used to pull barges up the coast;
barge loaded with supplies for new Northern store up the Coast.
"A letter signed by 1,500 scientists released yesterday in Ottawa [urged] all governments to act to protect the Boreal Forest. The scientists warned that the Boreal Forest – a garland of green in Canada that shields us against global warming – is clearly under serious threat from industrial logging and mining activities. It shields us from global warming by storing more carbon in its soils, forests and wetlands than any other ecosystem on the planet...In 2003, Mr. McGuinty promised to implement a land-use planning regime for the northern third of the province, an area that until now has been off limits to logging. So far he has failed to deliver on this promise, instead approving the massive DeBeers Victor Diamond Mine. The groups are also asking the government to protect significant areas of intact caribou habitat in the commercial forestry zone; a move that also would store large quantities of carbon that otherwise would contribute to global warming." (1)
The Victor Diamond Project is a massive diamond mine being proposed by the DeBeers diamond conglomerate in northeastern Ontario near Attawapiskat on James Bay. This region is part of one of the largest, intact wilderness areas left on earth and currently has no industrial development...The mine site would cover an area of 5,000 hectares. The open pit would be 220 metres deep and 1-2 kilometres wide. The ecological footprint of the mine (the area its operations will impact), however, is much larger. Up to 260,000 hectares -- an area roughly four times the size of the City of Toronto -- will be impacted by dewatering, the pumping of water out of the pit, which is likely to massively change water flows above and below ground throughout the area. There is a good chance that this project will be expanded if more diamonds are discovered in the region***... Environmental impacts include: 100,000 m3 of salty water will be pumped out of the pit each day into the Attawapiskat River. This is equivalent to 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools per day or 14,600 pools per year.2.5 million tonnes of rock would be processed (piled, crushed and dumped) each year.The area of the proposed mine and its associated infrastructure provides critical habitat for woodland caribou, a threatened species. Caribou are extremely sensitive to industrial activity and usually disappear from areas where it occurs. After the mine closes and the site is re-vegetated, studies say that "excellent habitat for moose" (shrubs and young forest) will be created, which also means that the habitat that previously supported caribou (older forest and bogs) will be diminished. This will result in the local extinction of caribou.....Debeers will exploit this non-renewable resource and get out. At the end of the mine's life -- in 15 years or less --- the people of the region will be left dealing with the impacts, such as damaged rivers and fisheries, depleted caribou herds, people trained in skills they can only use if they move away, huge disparities in income, and young people who no longer know the land. (2)
From the De Beers (A Diamond is Forever) website, the following information:
"In June 2005, the Attawapiskat First Nation voted in favour (85.5%) of ratifying the Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA). In August 2005, De Beers received approval by the Federal Minister of the Environment for the Victor Project Comprehensive Study Environmental Assessment (EA).**Construction of the mine began in February 2006, once the necessary permits were granted. The Victor Project will employ approximately 600 people during construction and 375 permanent positions will be created during mining and processing operations. The Victor mine will be the first diamond mine in Ontario and the second in Canada for De Beers." (3)
Notes: ** Table 8-38 Cumulative Effects Assessment-Natural Environment: 1) "Displacement of habitats potentially used by ungulates (mainly for caribou...); noise and other forms of general disturbance could adversely effect caribou" & the DeBeer's conclusion? " Effect not significant"???; 2) re migratory birds, "displacement of habitats (mainly fen and bog) at the Victor site, as a result of facility and infrastructure placement" & the DeBeer's conclusion? "effect not significant"???; ====> Aboriginal people in the James Bay Lowlands traditionally stock their freezers with ducks, geese, moose and caribou taken during the traditional spring and fall hunting seasons. One of Rambling Rose's most memorable meals was served to her by the chef at the Sakabaun ****: an appetizer of Arctic char flown in from Baffin Island followed by caribou stew.
elders also expressed concern that water quality would be negatively impacted and recalled: "In the mid-1950's, with the building of the radar....we're starting to see some of the side-effects in the area. My concern is that some 40 years down the line, when the mine closes, there may be effects....I see the problem left behind from the radar [editor's note: PCB's contaminating the water supply & elsewhere in the EA, removal of PCB contaminated soil from Fort Albany is documented in great detail}...Victor will affect water. Perhaps not right away, but maybe after closure."
Traditional teaching passed on via oral traditions: "My father told me that if you mistreat nature and kill the frog, there will be a day when you will not be able to drink the water. The frogs purify the water."
cf. "the Supreme Court of Canada defines Aboriginal rights as "an integral practice, custom, or tradition of the Aboriginal culture of the Concerned Aboriginal community. This right is defined within the context of the individual community and its historic (pre-contact traditions....Aboriginal rights are inherent.....Aboriginal and treaty rights normally require a land base sufficient to ensure their proper exercise...The taking of lands for other, incompatible purposes diminishes these rights." (pp 8-115-116 of comprehensive EA). (3)...."Potential disruptions to hunting and trapping acitivities could occur within and area of 750 sq km..." (p 8-118)..."Elders....[give high importance] to the maintenance of traditional skills and values. values include the holistic world view that sees people as part of the environment and responsible for its care, the spiritual and economic value placed on hunting, trapping and fishing, and on the use of traditional medicines, language retention, and the socio-political organization that give precedence to family-centre life and sharing, as well as decision-making by consensus." (p 8-118)
*** DeBeers EA indicates that 11 companies are exploring for diamonds in the immediate region adjacent to the Victor Project. Previous research done by RR revealed that diamond exploration is taking place in all lands north of TransCanada Highway 11; the impact of diamond mining in north-eastern Ontario at the James Bay frontier is comparable to the impact of oil and gas extraction in northern BC/Alberta & Yukon/North West Territories. Already the mighty Peace-Athabaska watershed system has been negatively impacted by the Fort McMurray oil tarsands development.
****Sakabaun is Mushkego Cree for traditional roast goose cooked on a spit over an open camp fire during hunting season. Photos and maps: ====> to follow
http://cpaws.org/news/archive/2007/05/ontarians_want_forest_protecti.php
(2) Ontario Wildlands League "What is Victor Diamond Mine?"
http://wildlandsleague.org/display.aspx?pid=231&cid=233
(3) Debeers website
http://www.debeerscanada.com/files_2/mining.html
(4) Link to Environmental Assessment Report referenced in this blog:
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