Birch Narrows Dene Nation members issue cease and desist letter to Baselode Energy Corporation, a Toronto-based uranium company
Feb. 9, 2021
Trapper and elder Ron Desjardin, pictured, was one of the Birch Narrow Dene Nation members who set up a blockade earlier this month to prevent a uranium exploration company from entering their traditional territory without consent. (Submitted by Ron Desjardin)
On February 9, 2021, members of Birch Narrows First Nation issued a cease and desist order to James Sykes, CEO of Baselode Energy Corporation, a Toronto-based uranium company who had been conducting mineral exploration on unoccupied Crown land near the band's territory without their consent. On February 10, Baselode workers were seen on the territory again, and members set up a checkpoint, blockading access and monitoring the area. Baselode had been issued a permit by the province of Saskatchewan prior to any meaningful consultation with the community. Birch Narrows Dene Elder-advisor and trapper Ron Desjardin said it felt like an invasion.
“We are fighting for our cultural survival. That’s what we’re doing right now and that’s why we feel so strongly about this. Do we want a uranium mine in the middle of that knowing the possible consequences if anything ever happened with our watershed? Of course not. Do we really want something that’s going to lead to the demise and extinction of our caribou in that area? No, we don’t,” Desjardin said
“We are fighting for our cultural survival. That’s what we’re doing right now and that’s why we feel so strongly about this. Do we want a uranium mine in the middle of that knowing the possible consequences if anything ever happened with our watershed? Of course not. Do we really want something that’s going to lead to the demise and extinction of our caribou in that area? No, we don’t,” Desjardin said