Being a member of Sandy Lake…

Being a member of Sandy Lake First Nation, I think it is very important to consult with the people who have lived in the area first before any decision is made to act on any proposal. It's not the community's wishes to develop any mining activity around our area because we see our home as a living entity and not a product of industrialization. It is a living being, and like all living beings, if it is disturbed it will get unwell for living conditions. There is proof that mining will do harm to the environment and cause significant amounts of health risks, not only for human kind, but all kinds of important species, and some that are coming near, and on the endangered species list. There is a huge risk of water contamination from disturbing the natural setting of the area that could be triggered from mass mineral extraction that will be unresolved for a long period of time which could take a hundred years, or there will never be any recovery at all and any species will suffer the consequences of mineral extraction creating unsafe, unhealthy water to consume.