Menominee Indian Tribe representatives issued a statement last week blasting the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s decision to grant a mining permit near the mouth of the Menominee River.
The department on Friday announced its decision to grant the permit for Aquila Resources Inc. to develop the “Back 40 Mine,” an open-pit gold, zinc and copper mine and processing facility in Lake Township, Michigan.
The Menominee and other opponents, including several environmental groups, cite the potential catastrophic impacts to the river, local community and the tribe’s place of origin.
“The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin is sickened by MDEQ’s decision to approve the application to grant Aquila Resources Inc. authorization to move forward with their Back 40 mining project,” Tribal Chairwoman Joan Delabreau said in a statement released to the media. “The tribe has and will continue to fight to protect any land within our ancestral territory that contains the remains of our ancestors and our cultural resources.
“The federal government’s failure to uphold their trust responsibility by delegating their responsibilities to the State of Michigan under the Clean Water Act is flawed. I feel that the federal government can delegate authority under the act to the state, but can never delegate their trust responsibility.”
Menominee sacred sites and other cultural resources are contained within the footprint of the mine, in an area that will be excavated if final approval is granted, according to tribal officials.
“Our place of origin at the mouth of the Menominee River may be destroyed by any adverse impacts on the land, environment and water from mining disasters,” said David “Nahwahquaw” Grignon, tribal historic preservation officer. “The federal agencies charged with upholding trust responsibility to tribes are not living up to their responsibilities through their inaction to protect our sacred and cultural resources on the Menominee River and the site of the Back 40 Mine.”
A public hearing discussing the permit and mine operation will be held from 6-10 p.m. Oct. 6 at Stephenson High School in Stephenson, Michigan. Written comments also may be sent to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality until Nov. 3.
The Menominee are planning a “Remembering our Ancestors” gathering Sept. 22 in Lake Township. For information, contact Guy Reiter at 715-853-2776 or anahkwet@hotmail.com.