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Wednesday, August 03, 2011

New film series to begin with "Keepers of the Water" Aug. 5 in Baraga

BARAGA -- Keepers of the Water, a 38-minute documentary film produced by Al Gedicks, will be shown as the first film in the series "Mining Impacts on Native Lands" from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, at the Ojibwa Community College, 111 Beartown Road, Baraga. A discussion will follow the film showing.

Keepers of the Water features the Indian-environmental alliance that formed against Exxon/Rio Algom's proposed Crandon Mine in Wisconsin. The film documents the Mole Lake Sokoagon Chippewa and other tribes' opposition to the mine plan and presents evidence that the metallic sulfide mine would result in toxic runoff that would have a disastrous effect on fish, wildlife, wild rice and human life in an unspoiled area.

Al Gedicks, professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, is the author of Resource Rebels: Native Challenges to Mining and Oil Corporations (South End Press, 2001), which has a chapter devoted to the struggle against the proposed Crandon Mine. Gedicks will also be a featured speaker at the Protect the Earth Great Lakes Community Gathering Saturday, Aug. 6, at Van Riper State Park in Champion, Mich.*

This free monthly film series is presented by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Natural Resources Department. The goal of the series is to increase community awareness of mining and its environmental and social impacts on Native communities and homelands. Discussion will be welcomed following each film. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Future films in this series will include the following:

Sept. 2: Mining Madness, Water Wars: The Great Lakes in the Balance

Oct. 7: Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action

Nov. 4: The Return of Navajo Boy

Dec. 2: American Outrage

For more information contact Jessica Koski, KBIC mining technical assistant, by calling (906) 524-5757 ext. 25 or email jkoski@kbic-nsn.gov.

* Editor's Note: Click here to read about the Protect the Earth Great Lakes Community Gathering.

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