The Aboriginal peoples of Quebec stand together against uranium at the final hearings of the BAPE in Montreal

MONTREAL, Dec. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - At the final public hearings of the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) on the uranium industry in Quebec, to be held today in Montreal, the James Bay Cree Nation will deliver a resounding and united message of opposition to uranium development in their territory, Eeyou Istchee. The Cree Nation, which has led the charge against uranium development, has been joined in this position by the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador and the Inuit of northern Quebec, who will also make presentations to the BAPE today.

"A powerful message has been sent by all of the Aboriginal peoples of Quebec. Together, we have said NO to uranium," said Matthew Coon Come, the Grand Chief of the James Bay Cree Nation. "Today, we show that the Cree Nation speaks in one voice – united with the other Aboriginal peoples of Quebec – when we insist that our lands remain free of uranium mining and uranium waste."

The Cree Nation Youth Council's StandAgainstUranium march, which began in Mistissini on November 23, arrived in Montreal today to attend the BAPE hearings. The marchers have travelled on foot over 850 km in 23 days, to share the Cree Nation's message and to encourage other Quebeckers to stand with them against uranium development. Overwhelmingly, those they met along the way have agreed that uranium mining should be banned in Quebec.

Youth Grand Chief Joshua Iserhoff has led the StandAgainstUranium march and will be making submissions to the BAPE on behalf of the Youth Council.  "One of our community's favourite fishing spots, Gobanji, is on Mistissini Lake, downstream from Strateco's Matoush project. My grandma's goose camp is there too," reflected Youth Chief Iserhoff. "I've had lots of time on this walk to think about how important this land is to me, my family and our entire community. I will be telling the Commissioners, on behalf of Cree Youth, that uranium mining, and the radioactive and hazardous waste it will leave behind, are not welcome in Eeyou Istchee."

"The courage and resolution shown by the StandAgainstUranium marchers over the last few weeks speaks in a powerful way to the determination of our people to protect Eeyou Istchee from the risks of uranium mining and uranium waste, today and for future generations. We give our thanks to the First Nations who offered support and encouragement along the way," noted Grand Chief Coon Come. "We have been gratified to see that as they learn the facts about uranium, Quebeckers are joining with us in our stand."

The BAPE's final hearings will be held in the Salle Ovation at the Hyatt Regency Montreal, at 1pm and 7pm. The evening sessions will be co-chaired by the BAPE Commission, the James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment and the Kativik Environmental Advisory Committee. More information about uranium and the Cree Nation's position can be found at www.StandAgainstUranium.com, on Facebook (James Bay Cree Against Uranium) or on Twitter (@JBCAUranium).

SOURCE: The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)

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