Chief says its time for government to discuss KI's future

Tb News Source

Web Posted: 5/29/2008 9:46:46 PM

The recently released leaders of the Kitchenumaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation were back in Northwestern Ontario Thursday, returning triumphantly to the region after winning their appeal in Toronto on Wednesday.

The five men and one woman were given a heroes welcome by those attending the Unity Walk in the city.

The group is now free after having their sentences reduced to time served by the Ontario Appeals Court. The KI leaders were jailed after disobeying a court order that would have allowed junior mining company Platinex, to resume drilling on what the Band calls it's traditional lands.

Now, to stop any further development on the disputed territory, Chief Donny Morris, says he will be presenting the province with a plan that could see the area in question protected. Morris says the fact the province supported their appeal is a sign of progress. But he still finds it hard to put all of his trust in a government he says is to blame for the six leaders ending up behind bars for 68 days.

Morris says it is time for the province to sit down government to government to discuss the future of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib First Nation.