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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Rally to protect public lands, treaty rights to be Sept. 28 in Marquette

From Cynthia Pryor and Stand for the Land:

MARQUETTE -- A Rally to protect public lands and Native American treaty rights will be held at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28, on the Marquette County Courthouse steps in Marquette.

The Rally is to support Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) member Charlotte Loonsfoot, who will be appearing in court Tuesday morning for a plea bargain concerning her May 27, 2010, arrest on Eagle Rock, an Anishinaabeg (Ojibwa) sacred site, for trespassing on state land and treaty-protected ceded territory. Eagle Rock is now being used (and allegedly leased from the State of Michigan) by Rio Tinto - Kennecott for their Eagle Project nickel and copper sulfide mine.

Loonsfoot had been camping at Eagle Rock and was praying when arrested. Kennecott, working with local law enforcement, removed the camp structures and community garden and fenced off public access to Eagle Rock.

The State of Michigan lease, which is considered legal based on permits that are still being questioned, is not going to be allowed in Loonsfoot's legal defense, according to Loonsfoot's attorneys. Thus, she has countered a plea bargain of "no contest" with one month of probation.

Read more about the Rally on Stand for the Land.

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