Tribal nations organize to oppose Copperwood Mine proposal
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WAKEFIELD, Mich. -- Several tribal nations have organized an encampment to raise awareness regarding the proposed Copperwood Mine project near the North Country Trail and the Porcupine Mountains.
The encampment, Animikiiwadiswan (Thunderbird Nest), is being established on Ottawa National Forest land just west of the North Country Trail parking lot, located about 20 minutes north of Wakefield on County Road 519. Organizers selected the location due to its immediate proximity to the proposed mine site.
The camp opens today at 3 p.m. CT. Attendees will perform ceremonies and provide educational literature to visitors regarding the Copperwood Mine proposal. Members of all tribal nations are invited, and non-tribal individuals are welcome to join in solidarity.
The camp will operate under a strict “pack-in, pack-out” policy, with organizers intending to leave no trace of the site once it concludes. Event organizers remind participants that the location is remote. Anyone intending to visit should bring their own food, water and dishware. Parking is limited, and carpooling is encouraged. No drugs or alcohol are permitted at the camp.
"Come in a good way and respect what's going on," said Charlotte Loonsfoot, a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, co-executive manager of Mukwa and vice president of Protect the Porkies. "All are welcome. We are excited for people to show up and show their support."
No official end date has been set for the encampment, though Loonsfoot said it could run through early October. The primary purpose of the camp is to draw public attention to ongoing environmental concerns.
"It's for folks to gather in solidarity and show appreciation for the land, water and lifeforms of this beloved area," said Tom Grotewohl, founder of Protect the Porkies. "It is also to demonstrate the size and support for the movement which opposes the Copperwood Mine development."
The primary concern for the Protect the Porkies movement and participating tribal nations involves the potential environmental effects of constructing and operating the mine.
Protect the Porkies has presented concerns over the storage of waste materials from the mine. The current proposed design of the mine would store waste minerals in a large basin. Protect the Porkies posits that if this basin should fails at any point, all of the toxic materials within -- mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead -- would run directly into Lake Superior.
Another concern that has been raised is that exhaust vents from the mine could release particulate matter containing benzene, formaldehyde, arsenic and cobalt, polluting the nearby area, including the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
Additionally, critics worry the infrastructure development needed to build the mine -- including gas, electric and water lines -- could open the area to other heavy industry developments, such as data centers, after the mine closes.
"The campaign is not anti-mining," Grotewohl assured. "We make the case that the juncture of Lake Superior, the North Country Trail and the Porkies is not appropriate for any heavy industry whatsoever."
Organizers listed several ways the public can support the initiative, including:
-- Staying at the encampment
-- Stopping by to show solidarity or provide supplies
-- Sharing information via social media and independent media outlets
-- Printing informational flyers for camp participants to disperse
-- Donating essential camp materials
More information on the encampment, how to support the camp and the Protect the Porkies movement is available at protecttheporkies.com.