"Powerful special interests such as Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce have made no secret of their push to overturn regulations that protect people and the environment from the ravages of open pit mining. In May, that group launched an ad campaign in favor of the Penokee mine and pushed for the G-Tac bill.

Why should Wisconsin’s 11 indigenous tribes be pleased with the appointment of [Republican Sen. Neil] Kedzie, who pushed to repeal the state law against racist school mascots, to chair the committee? His position on mascots alone shows a lack of respect for and cooperation with Native American communities, whose water supply and cultural resources would be directly impacted by new mining.

The Bad River band of Chippewa held a press conference recently and met with Gov. Scott Walker about the Penokee mine, which would lie upstream from their reservation.

“The Bad River watershed is a Wisconsin gem and pristine environmental resource, and the band’s cultural identity and way of life is highly dependent upon maintaining the health and integrity of the watershed,” Bad River Tribal Chairman Mike Wiggins said in a statement.

“It is clear, based on available geologic and environmental information, that such an open pit mine cannot be developed and operated using current mining technologies and practices without destroying the environmental quality, including the waters, wetlands, streams, rivers, air, lands and forests of the Bad River watershed, the Bad River Indian Reservation, and Lake Superior.”"

Get the Story:
Carl Sack: Senate mining committee bodes ill for Wisconsin’s environment (The Wisconsin State Journal 10/9)

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Column: Proposed mine affects Bad River Ojibwe Reservation (6/22)
Letter: Bad River Ojibwe will suffer most with proposed mine (6/15)
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