In a symbolic gesture the Innu First Nations of Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam and Matimekush-Lac John returned two iron-ore boulders to Iron Ore Co. of Canada’s (IOC) head office in Montreal. IOC is majority-owned by Rio Tinto. The boulders were given as a gift from the company to the northeastern Quebec communities in 1970.
“These stones represent the only thing we have ever received from all of IOC/Rio Tinto’s mining developments on our lands. Our peoples have yet to receive any revenue, compensation, indemnity or royalties whatsoever,” chief of Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam Mike McKenzie said in a release.
The Innu are kicking off a campaign with the theme: “IOC/Rio Tinto must pay its rent,” while moving forward with a $900-million class-action lawsuit against the company. A judge ruled in favour of IOC in September.
“We have already reached agreements with all of the other iron-ore mining companies — four in total — in our territory. Yet the one that was the first to move into our territory and the one which caused us the most harm, IOC/Rio Tinto, is the last one without an agreement with us,” McKenzie added.
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