Thursday, February 11, 2021

Nunavut hunters agree to end protest at iron ore mine after offer of a meeting


Lawyers for Inuit hunters blocking an airstrip and road at an iron ore mine in Nunavut say the group will end its protest.
© Provided by The Canadian Press

The blockade started a week ago after seven hunters travelled two days and over 150 kilometres to get to Baffinland's Mary River mine site.

It ended after the regional Inuit organization and land-claim body offered the hunters a face-to-face meeting, which they accepted.

The hunters, who call themselves the Nuluujat Land Guardians, were protesting Baffinland's proposal to double its output and build a 110-kilometre railway to the ocean.

The hunters are to stay at a nearby cabin until at least Friday, then make the journey back to Pond Inlet where they will meet with local leaders.

On Wednesday, a Nunavut judge ordered the hunters to clear the airstrip so mine workers could fly home.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2021.

The Canadian Press

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