Prince Albert Daily Herald
First Nation rejects proposal to mine peat on traditional muskeg land near La Ronge
Youth worker Shane Bird prepares a fire to make muskeg tea with a plant that grows in wetlands and is called maskêkopakwa in Cree. Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock
The Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Chief and Council announced its opposition to proposed peat moss harvesting on its traditional territory Tuesday after traditional land users in the area wrote in with concerns that the project would impact their way of life.
Quebec-based company Lambert Peat Moss Inc. raised the ire of some La Ronge area residents when it went public with a proposal to extract peat moss from four locations near the Lac La Ronge provincial park.
A group opposed to a peat moss mining project south of La Ronge hopes to raise awareness through an online speaker series starting this week. Starting on Feb. 10, the group is holding an online speaker series featuring Elders and Indigenous conservation activists from northern Saskatchewan. They hope to raise awareness about the importance of peat bogs, or muskeg, to traditional ways of life and land-based food sources. Quebec-based company Lambert Peat Moss Inc. raised the ire of some La Ronge area residents when it went public with a proposal to extract peat moss from four locations near the Lac La Ronge provincial park.