At the invitation of Kamamuit Papakassikᵘ (“the Assembly” of Papakassik, the Master of the Caribou), a delegation visited the Innu community of Matimekush–Lac John and the Naskapi community of Kawawachikamach to provide independent information about the Strange Lake mining project being developed by Torngat Metals. The delegation was made up of hunters and custodians of Nitassinan – the territory of the Innu Nation – as well as representatives from MiningWatch Canada, Eau Secours, and the David Suzuki Foundation. The information and solidarity tour was coordinated by the Takuaimatishun Applied Research Laboratory.
This brief report-back contains summaries of the information sessions and other meetings held, general findings from conversations and observations on-site, and links to recordings and the content presented. The representatives from the organizations on the tour include: Rodrigue Turgeon, Canada Program Co-Lead for MiningWatch Canada and a lawyer; Émile Cloutier-Brassard, mining issues coordinator at Eau Secours; Albert Lalonde, lawyer and researcher working simultaneously for the David Suzuki Foundation and the Takuaimatishun Research Laboratory. The following local representatives also participated in all tour activities: Noël André, hunter and spokesperson for Kamamuit Papakassikᵘ, an expert on the territory; Donat Jean-Pierre, member of Kamamuit Papakassikᵘ and interpreter for Innu-Aimun; Johanne Roussy, representative of Sept-Îles Sans Uranium (Sept-Îles Free of Uranium) – a leading organization in the region’s struggles against radioactive activities.