April

The Executive of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs fast for 24 hours as a demonstration of support for the jailed Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Band Council members in Ontario. The Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation (KI) is involved in a dispute with the Government of Ontario and Platinex Mining Inc. KI is a fly-in community located in north-western Ontario. The Band Council members are jailed for protecting not only their territory but their fundamental human rights. The court found them in contempt of a court order allowing Platinex Mining to conduct exploration in their territory. The Chief and Council made the decision not to sign the court-ordered agreement and denied Platinex free-entry to KI lands.