Canadian Mining Company Threatens Western Shoshone Hot Spring
September 8, 1996
The Dann family of the Western Shoshone Nation, the Western Shoshone
Defense Project, and the Western Shoshone National Council are asking
for your immediate assistance in protecting a site of cultural and
spiritual significance. Oro Nevada Mining Company has filed a Notice of
Intent with the Bureau of Land Management to conduct exploratory
drilling for gold directly on top of a hot spring located approximately
one mile south of the Dann Ranch in Crescent Valley Nevada. The drilling
is schednied to start in early September and may begin any day now. The
Danns and the W.S.N.C have informed the B.L.M. and the mining company
that the hot spring and the surrounding area is extremely important
spiritually and culturally and requested that it not be disturbed by
mining activity. In response to these requests Oro Nevada has repeatedly
mislead Western Shoshone representatives and moved forward with their
exploration plans. Previous exploratory drilling has destroyed other hot
springs in the area. The hot spring adjacent to the Dann ranch is
especially vulnerable because of its low flow. The intrusion of mining
activity onto this sacred area represents an attack on freedom of
religion, a right guaranteed by the United States Constitution. Public
pressure mast be applied to force the BLM and Oro Nevada to respect the
rights of the Western Shoshone and preserve their cultural sites.
Background
The U.S. Constitution states that treaties -- agreements between
sovereign nations -- are the supreme law of the land. The 1863 Treaty of
Ruby Valley between the U.S. and the Western Shoshone Nation remains in
effect, affirming the sovereign status of the Western Shoshone and
recognizing the boundaries of their territory. The destruction of
cultural sites and water resources was clearly not intended to be
permitted through the Treaty of Ruby Valley. Oro Nevada's activities
fall within the boundaries of the Western Shoshone Nation and violate
the intent of the Treaty and the U.S. Constitution.
Oro Nevada Mining Company first appeared in the Crescent Valley area in
early Spring 1996, staking claims on most of the so-called public lands
surrounding the Dann ranch. In July 1996, Oro Nevada purchased the
neighboring Dean Ranch, 48,000 acres of private land spread across the
Dann's traditional use area. In total, Oro Nevada controls over 94,000
acres of land in the Crescent Valley area. The company is completely
owned by Oro Nevada Resources Inc. of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is
selling stock through the MVP Capital Corporation, also of Toronto. They
were able to raise 40 million dollars (US) almost overnight to fund the
purchase of the Dean Ranch and their exploration activities in Crescent
Valley. One of the founding directors is a wealthy Canadian geologist
named Ian Parks, who has connections with mining ventures around the
world.
The Danns live in one of the few places surrounding the world famous
"Carlin Trend" ore body that has not been extensively explored or
impacted by gold mining ventures. These activities by Oro Nevada
represent the final invasion of transnational gold mining ventures on
the traditional lands of the Dann family. The potential of these
activities to destroy the hot spring and other cultural sites represents
not only an attack on the Dann family but on the cultural integrity of
the Western Shoshone Nation.
The destruction of sacred sites is an attempt at the destruction of the
spirit. These acts constitute genocide against the Western Shoshone
Nation.
What We Are Asking
Phone calls, faxes and letters are needed to the BLM and Oro Nevada.
because of the immediacy of the situation. Important points to make are:
* The Danns and the Western Shoshone National Council have asked that no
drilling or other mining activities occur in Section 10, Township 28
North, Range 49 East, the area containing the hot spring. The United
States government has still failed to provide documentation on how they
acquired legal title to Western Shoshone lands. Until they prove title
has been legally transferred, the Western Shoshone retain their rights
and responsibilities towards their traditional territory. Mining
companies and the Federal Government must respect the wishes of the Dann
family and the Western Shoshone Nation.
* The U.S. Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion. This freedom
is meaningless if the sites connected to the practice of the religion
are destroyed. Other laws protecting cultural sites such as the
American Indian Religious Freedom Act, and the National Historic
Preservation Act have been ignored in regards to the drilling around the
hot spring.
* Hot springs are rare and represent places of very significant cultural
and spiritual value to the Western Shoshone. If a hot spring is
destroyed it cannot be replaced. Drilling has damaged or destroyed hot
springs in the past. The destruction of these sacred places represents
a continued genocide against the Western Shoshone.
* You support the Western Shoshone in their desire for the hot spring
and other cultural areas to remain undisturbed.
The following individuals and companies should be contacted iminediately
and frequently:
Anne Morgan
State Director
Bureau of Land Management
850 Harvard Way
P.O. Box 12000
Reno, Nevada 89520-0006
phone: 702-785-6400
fax: 702-785-6411
Helen Hankins
District Manager
Elko BLM
P.O. 831
Elko, Nevada 89803
phone: 702-753-0200
fax: 702-753-0255
Robert Allen Jones
President
Ore Nevada Mining
Company
6490 South MeCarran Blvd.
Building D-1, Suite 34
Reno, Nevada 89509
phone; 702-825-7499
fax: 702-825-5277
Peter M. Slocombe
Investment Manager
Oro Nevada Resources Inc.
20 Adelaide St. East
Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario M5C 2T6
phone: 416-368-2985
fax: 416-368-5201
Margaret Jarniesen
MVP Capital Corp.
Box 28
20 Adelaide St. East
Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario MSC 2T6
phone: 416-867-1100
fax: 416-867-1109
People may be needed to participate in protests or non-violent civil
disobedience to protect the hot spring and other cultural sites in the
area. This would be a last resort if other avenues fail to persuade the
BLM or Oro Nevada. Call us if you would be able to come out to Crescent
Valley to assist. Please remember that the Western Shoshone continue to
abide by the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley, a treaty of "Peace and
Friendship" with the United States. We are committed to non-violence.
Firearms, drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited! Please call first
if you can come out.
Donations of money and office supplies are always needed. Research is
needed on Oro Nevada and its Canadian relations. We are especially
interested in discovering what individuals and/or companies have
invested in Oro Nevada Resources Inc. or MVP Capital Corp.
Please contact the W.S.D.P for more information!
Western Shoshone Defense Project
P. O. Box 211106
Crescent Valley, NV 89821
702/468-0230 voice
702/468-0237 fax