Joseph Urges Ontario To Release Jailed Protesters

Joseph Urges Ontario To Release Jailed Protesters

Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 14:21

 

 

The chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is joining calls to release the chief and councillors of an Ontario band who were jailed when they protested developers going ahead with mine exploration on their traditional territory.

 

Last month, six members of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation were sent to jail for six months for their actions.

 

Platinex is hoping to develop a deposit of platinum.

 

Chief Lawrence Joseph says incarcerating elected leaders is the “worst case scenario”.

 

Instead, he says there should be dialogue based on mutual respect.

 

Joseph urges the public to imagine the outcry if the premier of Saskatchewan was jailed for sticking up for the people who elected him.

 

He also says the KI incident may have an effect on next month’s national day of action, but he says Saskatchewan’s day of action will be a peaceful demonstration.

 

Joseph adds a petition is circulating in the province for those opposed to the band members being sent to jail.

 

He hopes the government of Saskatchewan takes notice and applies a different approach when it comes time to talk about duty to consult issues.