WESTERN SHOSHONE DEFENSE PROJECT
Press Release - For Immediate Release
For additional information, please call 775-468-0230.
Western Shoshone Hold Corporate Dialogue Workshop – Emphasis on Traditional Beliefs and Cultural Values
February 4, 2005 Elko, Nevada. Western Shoshone elected and traditional leaders gathered together this week for a workshop on corporate social responsibility and successful dialogue with mining companies – strong emphasis was placed on traditional beliefs and cultural values. The workshop was coordinated by the Elko Band Council of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada, the Indigenous Environmental Network, the Western Shoshone Defense Project and Oxfam America. Speakers were brought in from across the U.S. and Canada and included a Senior Policy Advisor on Corporate Engagement and Native rights leaders and organizers from Laguna, Acoma, Dine’, Ojibwe and First Nations in Canada. Western Shoshone leadership participated in their individual capacities and as members of the newly formed United Western Shoshone Alliance, an alliance of tribal and traditional Western Shoshone composed of seven of the nine tribal governments and the Western Shoshone National Council.
According to the USGS, the United States is now the world’s second largest producer of gold with approximately 85% of the gold coming from Western Shoshone territory. Historically, the Western Shoshone who are connected to the areas where mining is occurring have been blocked by federal regulations and lack of resources from effectively addressing the impacts of mining on their lands, culture and communities. With the global trend by businesses to live up to standards of “social responsibility”, Western Shoshone and other Native communities are bearing witness to corporate attempts to better the existing relationships. Workshop coordinators explained that the workshop was structured on similar trainings that the mining companies have been holding to educate themselves on socially responsible behavior and indigenous rights.
There were sessions on legal protections for indigenous communities – including information about current standards for corporate social responsibility; environmental and cultural concerns, and how to protect significant areas; communication with mining companies, which are often unaccustomed to listening to Native concerns; and a power mapping analysis addressing the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley, Western Shoshone National structures and legal/political histories. The workshop officially concludes on Saturday, February 5 with a site visit to the Mt. Tenabo/Horse Canyon area (weather permitting).
Workshop facilitator, Tom Goldtooth, Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network stated: “We’re very excited about this workshop. Mining issues and corporate behavior have affected indigenous peoples around the world for hundreds of years. This workshop is geared towards bringing information and skills to the Western Shoshone. It’s the first of its kind and allows Native communities to develop the tools to participate on a more equal level when it comes to creating fair channels of dialogue or engagement with corporate interests.”
Hugh Stevens, Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Chairman: “The purpose of the workshop is to share information on what the mines are actually doing to the land and water in our territory – areas identified by the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley - and how the Western Shoshone can effectively participate in any decisions and policies that are made. At this point, we feel that the companies have been leaving the Western Shoshone out of the decision-making process even though they are aware that the Treaty of Ruby Valley is still intact. We want to make sure our people have their concerns addressed on cultural, environmental, and other issues as well as the government to government relationship – Nation to Nation. These issues are important to us as Western Shoshone and to many of our non-Native allies as well because the water is important to all residents of this area. We are very pleased that this workshop was made possible and that our guests were able and willing to travel long distances to share their stories and information with us.”
Western Shoshone Defense Project
P.O. Box 211308
Crescent Valley, NV 89821
(775) 468-0230
Fax: (775) 468-0237
Western Shoshone Defense Project
Special thanks to Carrie Dann for sending this on!
February 2005 News Reports