June 3, 2010 Stand For The Land Rally Michigan State Capitol: Protest Arrests of Native Americans, Kennecott Minerals Police Raid at Sacred Eagle Rock

June 3, 2010 Stand For The Land Rally

To Prevent Sulfide Mining

Protest Eagle Rock Police Raid and Arrests by Kennecott Minerals

The pristine Upper Peninsula of Michigan is in jeopardy from 30 sulfide "acid" mines if the mine planned by Kennecott Eagle Minerals moves forward with protection from Michigan's Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm and her environmental protection agencies

Scroll down for the schedule for rally planned by Upper Peninsula Ojibwa, Stand for the Land and several environment groups at Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan on Thurs. June 3, 2010 following the massive May 27 police raid ordered by Kennecott Eagle Minerals on the defenders of Eagle Rock resulting in arrest of two Ojibwa campers for Trespassing and demanding others leave!

Everyone Please Attend:

STAND FOR THE LAND RALLY - LANSING, MI June 3rd

A contingency of native and non-native residents of the Upper Peninsula are going to the State Capitol in Lansing to hand deliver an Environmental Justice petition and a Tribal Treaty Rights Statement to our Governor and to talk to the Natural Resources Commission about the Eagle Mine Project.
We will be talk about the use of state public lands for a private multi-national corporation's gain.

We will talk about Eagle Rock - a sacred site of the Anishinaabe that is now fenced in and in accessible to the public and the Anishinaabe.

We will talk about the violation of Treaty Rights.

We will talk about rights of communities that have been violated through the lack of engagement from permitting agencies in the permitting of the Eagle Mine on the Yellow Dog Plains in Marquette County.

Groups and citizens from all around Michigan and the Great Lakes are asked
to participate.

Rally Schedule:

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

11:00 am Meet on Capitol Lawn

11:30 am Reading of the Environmental Justice Petition

Reading a Tribal Rights Statement

Eagle Rock (Song For The People) - sung by Drew Nelson

Other Voices Joining In

1:00 pm Deliver the petitions and Tribal Rights Statement to the Governor's office

3:00 pm Walk to Natural Resources Commission Meeting - 333 E. Michigan Ave - Lansing Center

4:30 pm Give Public Comment at NRC Meeting

Here is the schedule of events for next week and more detail:

June 2nd - Washtenaw County Circuit Court - 1:30 pm Ann Arbor.
Venue argument for the Contested Case Appeal
This will determine the location of the court case - Ann Arbor or Lansing
Merits of the case will not be discussed yet.

June 3rd - Capitol Steps, Lansing - 11:00 am *Stand for the Land Rally*

The actual speaking/singing event starts at 11:30 and we have until 2:00 for this rally.
There are many musicians joining us and we have a P.A. system so that all can hear.
We will then hand deliver an Environmental Justice Petition to the Governor's Office along with other documents and statements to her attention.

June 3rd - 3:00 pm Walk from Capitol Steps to Lansing Center - 333 E. Michigan Ave - three blocks away to attend Natural Resources Commission Meeting.
Public Comment starts at 4:30.

Musicians are lining up!!
Drew Nelson will be singing his new song Eagle Rock!
Rachael and Dominac Davis, Jen Sygit & Sam Corbin and Miko Fossum will add their voices and sounds to this event.
This is a peaceful demonstration of our rights.
Be there.

Cynthia Pryor
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, Inc
1-906-360-2414
http://www.yellowdogwatershed.com
http://www.standfortheland.com
http://www.savethewildeup.org

Police Raid: Native American encampment to defend Sacred Eagle Rock is crushed by Kennecott Minerals to construct a nickel and copper mine

Kennecott Eagle Minerals crushes Eagle Rock encampment, orders heavily-armed police raid, two campers arrested, demands other campers to leave, disrespectfully douses sacred grandfather father without an elder as requested by Native Americans, trashes Eagle Rock Community Garden

Kennecott celebrates aftermath of raid by bribing cops with picnic, according to Stand for the Land blog

Scroll down for photos of police raid, links to Indian Country Today story

(Big Bay, Michigan) - On orders from an international mining company, dozens of heavily armed police raided a month old Ojibwa encampment at sacred Eagle Rock in northern Michigan and during which mine officials intentionally disrespected American Indians traditions and beliefs in the process.

The raid happened on Thursday, May 27, 2010 - a little more than a month after the camp was created at sunset on April 23 by three brave American Indian women from Baraga, Michigan - KBIC members Charlotte Loonsfoot, 37, and Chalsea Smith, 20; and Georgenia Earring of the Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux tribe in South Dakota.

Then the mine officials literally crushed the camp and the Eagle Rock Community Garden that has been expanded in recent days.

Sacred Eagle Rock and the Yellow Dog Plains are State of Michigan public land that Ojibwa have rights to under federal treaties instead the state leased the land to Kennecott Eagle Minerals for its sulfide mine that will produce sulfuric acid byproduct as they mine nickel, copper and other minerals.

Some 30 other similar mines will pop up like mushrooms in the same area if the Eagle Mine Project starts digging under the Salmon Trout River; and underneath Eagle Rock to create a tunnel to the mine.

Kennecott disrespected several Ojibwa traditions including a request to have an elder douse the grandfather fire and arresting a camper in a fasting ritual with her bundle on Eagle Rock.

Meanwhile, terror tactics were reported by the American Indian and non-native Eagle Rock defenders in the days leading up to the raid including numerous sharpened metal objects and large nails have been scattered in the sand at the edge of a river that the campers sometimes use to cool down from record high temperatures this past week.

The objects were not at the water's edge a few days earlier. An approximately nine-inch nail showed no signs of rust and appeared to be relatively new.

In addition, in the week prior to the raid Kennecott construction personnel constructed a fence across a path that mine officials know is being used by the campers to collect drinking water and to water the new eagle Rock Community Garden.

Also campers have repeatedly spotted unknown people in camouflage sneaking around in the bushes around the outer perimeter of the campsite at the base of Eagle Rock.

While the Eagle Rock camp was set up by Ojibwa tribal members, the campers included members of several tribes including Lakota and Cherokee plus members of numerous other tribes expressed support for the campers in internet posts and letters.

Please read story in Indian Country Today (ICT) newspaper:
Raid at Eagle Rock:

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/greatlakes

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/greatlakes/95060709.html

Raid at Eagle Rock in ICT digital edition pages 7 and 8:

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/digitalcopy/95104274.html

http://flipflashpages.uniflip.com/2/16715/60551/pub/

Michigan State Police standing on the remote Triple A Road near the entrance to Eagle Rock. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Marquette County Sheriff's Department cars blocking Triple A Road at the Eagle Project nickel and Copper mine entrance about three quarters of a mile east of sacred Eagle Rock.
Also pictured Powell Township fire and ambulance vehicles and personnel, who were on standby in case someone was hurt during the police raid on sacred Eagle Rock.
The media and campers were allowed to walk past the blockade to the former encampment but warned to stay on the road or face arrest. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Michigan State Police and mine security perched atop Eagle Rock – the officers were armed with high power rifles. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Following police raid, Eagle Rock campers stand on the Triple A Road at the former entrance to the sacred Eagle Rock encampment as Michigan State Police stand watch in the background
In foreground, are two of the four campers present when police moved in plus longtime blogger and camper Gabriel Caplett (on left with video camera ) who has been writing daily updates on the camp for the past month on the StandForTheLand Blog and also has written hundreds of updates about the effort to block by several environment groups and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community since plans for the the mine were announced in 2004.
Pictured with Caplett in the foreground are Kalvin Hartwig (center), a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa, and nonnative Catherine Parker (right) of Marquette.
Michigan State Police standing on the Triple A Road near the entrance to Eagle Rock after raid on campers and arrest of two members of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for "trespassing" when they refused to leave the sacred Eagle Rock Ojibwa encampment. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Kennecott Eagle Minerals employees string the fence across the driveway to the Eagle Rock encampment's with state police and mine security looking on, (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Michigan State Police and mine security perched atop Eagle Rock – the officers were armed with high power rifles. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Two of the four campers that were present when police moved in on May 27, 2010. Kalvin Hartwig, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa, and non-Native Catherine Parker of Marquette, Michigan stand in front of the former encampment entrance at Eagle Rock that is filled with the mine's heavy equipment and police. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

The remains of the Eagle Rock Community Garden that was pulled up by Eagle Project mine officials and placed into purple children's swimming pools at the encampment entrance. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Mine equipment at entrance to Eagle Rock with Stand For the Land sign and a pole with a lone Eagle Feather on top. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Powell Township ambulance and fire vehicles and personnel on standby at the entrance to the Eagle Project nickel and copper mine about three quarters of a mile from Sacred Eagle Rock. (Photo by Greg Peterson)

Michigan Ojibwa: Help Protect Sacred Eagle Rock from Kennecott Minerals Sulfide Mine

Click to Play

Urgent Plea from Ojibwa Warrior: Supporters needed at Sacred Eagle Rock in northern Michigan to help prevent Kennecott Sulfide Mine


Above, Photo of Sitting Bull on American Flag atop Sacred Eagle Rock

American Indians and non-natives are encouraged to visit the northern Michigan campsite that is blocking a sulfide mine - as in sulfuric acid - from being built under Sacred Eagle Rock

Levi Tadgerson, an Anishinaabe man who loves and respects the environment, narrates this video that invites everyone to join the encampment at the base of Eagle Rock - the sooner the better because a confrontation between mine owners, the police and those protecting Sacred Eagle Rock could happen at any moment.

EarthHealingTV youtube

Urgent: Join tribes, others who areblocking Sacred Eagle Rock from mining giant Kennecott

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv542P75-fw

Please watch 3 minute video by Tadgerson - who is a 22-year-old Northern Michigan University senior and member of Bay Mills Indian Community. The video was shot on 4/29/2010.

Playing A "Thank you" Drum is Elder Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaine of Iron River, MI

In the video, you will see the many amazing things happening to protect Sacred Eagle Rock including an appearance by popular American Indian singer/songwriter Elder Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaine of Iron River, MI - an elder of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe in Wisconsin.

Germain, who sings and leads a thank you drum under the shadow of Sacred Eagle Rock, says all those helping at the standoff are "warriors" in a larger cause.

"Warriors" who are protecting Sacred Eagle Rock


Photos by Greg Peterson

The Blue "Water Flag" that hangs atop Sacred Eagle Rock


Eagle Rock has been a sacred place to hold ceremonies since the Ojibwa tribe was created and was seeded to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) under treaties with the American government.

The multi-tribe encampment, that could be raided by mine guards and police at any moment, is blocking the Eagle Mine Project by international mining giant Kennecott Minerals and its parent company Rio Tinto.

KBIC member Glen Bressette Jr., 38, of Harvey, Michigan brought a rare legally-permitted Eagle has been received to award feathers to those who honor their tribes by protecting sacred Eagle Rock and other honorable actions.

Cliff's edge atop Sacred Eagle Rock in Marquette County, Michigan



Dozens of people from numerous tribes have spent days at the camp - and many others have brought supplies to the remote site on dirt roads about an hour from any city.

The state of Michigan has claimed ownership to the land - but the lease with Kennecott only takes effect when the mine has secured all permits.
Opponents say the mine must still get a federal EPA groundwater permit - but under a technicality the mine owners say they do not need the permit and recently put up No Trespassing signs.

The American Indians rushed to the sight after Kennecott ordered the arrest of longtime mine opponent Cynthia Pryor of Big Bay, MI on April 20, 2010.

Pryor was out for her usual walk on the Yellow Dog Plains when she spotted a bulldozer - and refused to leave saying the mine still had an EPA permit pending.

Pryor is a member of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.

Among the Ojibwa tribes from Michigan and Wisconsin on sight are KBIC, Lac Du Flambeau, and Bay Mills Indian Community.

As of April 30th, the mine guards has not confronted the campers - but the day before ordered no still or video cameras are allowed. That has campers worried about why what they do not want videotaped or documented - thus nerves are high.

When a reporter arrived a short time later - the campers allowed him on the sight and this story was videotaped.

For more information call:
1-906-401-0109

The video was produced by the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI, which has founded numerous youth, faith and Native American related environment projects.

Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaineof Iron River, MI - a member of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe inWisconsin.

He is a well-know longtime nativesinger:

http://www.bobbybullet.com

Petition to support Cynthia Pryor

www.savethewildup.org/jailed/petition

Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve:

http://www.yellowdogwatershed.org/blog

Save the Wild U.P. (SWUP):

http://www.savethewildup.org

SWUP Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20079015072

SWUP Causes on Facebook

http://www.causes.com/causes/46130?recruiter_id=60587135

Stand for the Land blog:

http://standfortheland.com

Stand for the Land flickr photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49633257@N03

Stories by Gabriel Caplett and otherson the Headwaters: Citizen Journalism For the Great Lakeswebsite.

http://headwaters.net

Headwaters stories include oppositionto the Kennecott Eagle Mine project and alleged international crimesand bad acts by Kennecott Mining and its parent company Rio Tinto:

Taking a Stand: Sacred SiteCelebrated Despite Citizen Arrest

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/taking-a-stand-sacred-site-celebrated-despite-citizen-arrest

Pryor Ordered to Leave Jail:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/pryor-ordered-to-leave-jail

Cynthia Prior Pleads Not Guilty:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/cynthia-pryor-pleads-not-guilty

Cynthia Pryor arrested at mineproperty:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/citizen-arrested-for-%E2%80%9Ctrespassing%E2%80%9D-on-public-land/

Eagle Mine Concerns Raised at Rio TintoMeeting:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/audio-rio-tintos-annual-general-meeting

Upper Peninsula Mine Threatens SacredTribal Rights:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/upper-peninsula-mine-threatens-sacred-tribal-rights

Rio Tinto Stomps on Indigenous Rightsin Upper Peninsula of Michigan:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/rio-tinto-stomps-out-indigenous-rights-in-upper-michigan

Kennecott Minerals parent company RioTinto accused of crimes ranging from bribery to espionage toviolating mining act:

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/uk-serious-fraud-office-to-investigate-rio-tinto

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-employees-charged-with-industrial-espionage-and-bribery

http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-pleads-guilty-to-breach-of-mining-management-act-again-2

USA Today and Washington Post storiesfrom Associated Press by writer John Flesher article about ChaunceyMoran, vice chairman of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and avolunteer stream monitor

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-09-08-276323347_x.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/08/AR2007090800356.html

More stories and info about ChaunceyMoran:

http://www.waterkeeper.org/ht/d/OrganizationDetails/id/707

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AP05J20091126

Mining Journal stories:

Native American activists protest atEagle Rock 4/25/10:

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543341.html

Mining Journal Editorial: Cooler headsmust prevail in mine protests 4/25/10:

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543354.html

Pryor pleads not guilty to trespassing:Mining opponent arrested at Kennecott operation 4/21/10:

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543227.html

Mine foe Pryor remains jailed 4/22/10:

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543253.html

Rally Held at Eagle Rock

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543014.html?nav=5006

Mining Journal Video of Rally:

http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543018.html?nav=5056

DEQ mine decision questioned 1/16/10:

http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/539169.html

Yellow Dog Plains on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Dog_Plains

Yellow Dog Plains Pix via Wikipedia ByMaynard Leon and Kirill Zikanov (Wiki username Kirillz)

Trouble on the Yellow Dog Plains:

http://savethewildup.org/files/swup/265.pdf

GRANHOLM, DEQ DECISION CONDEMNED BYU.P.

http://www.ausableanglers.org/files/members/RIVERWATCH48.pdf

Protect the Earth: Part 2, Walk toEagle Rock By Michele Bourdieu

http://keweenawnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/protect-earth-part-2-walk-to-eagle-rock.html

State of Michigan Info on Eagle MineProject:

http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3311_4111_18442-130551--,00.html

Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute:

http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.org