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Mining, the Environment, and Indigenous Development Conflicts
From sun-baked Black Mesa to the icy coast of Labrador, native lands for decades have endured mining ventures that have only lately been subject to environmental laws and a recognition of treaty rights. Yet conflicts surrounding mining development and indigenous peoples continue to challenge policy-makers.This book gets to the heart of resource conflicts and environmental impact assessment by asking why indigenous communities support environmental causes in some cases of mining development but not in others. Saleem Ali examines environmental conflicts between mining companies and indigenous communities and with rare objectivity offers a comparative study of the factors leading to those conflicts.Mining, the Environment, and Indigenous Development Conflicts presents four cases from the United States and the Navajos and Hopis with Peabody Coal in Arizona; the Chippewas with the Crandon Mine proposal in Wisconsin; the Chipewyan Inuits, Déné and Cree with Cameco in Saskatchewan; and the Innu and Inuits with Inco in Labrador. These cases exemplify different historical relationships with government and industry and provide an instance of high and low levels of Native resistance in each country. Through these cases, Ali analyzes why and under what circumstances tribes agree to negotiated mining agreements on their lands, and why some negotiations are successful and others not.Ali challenges conventional theories of conflict based on economic or environmental cost-benefit analysis, which do not fully capture the dynamics of resistance. He proposes that the underlying issue has less to do with environmental concerns than with sovereignty, which often complicates relationships between tribes and environmental organizations. Activist groups, he observes, fail to understand such tribal concerns and often have problems working with tribes on issues where they may presume a common environmental interest.This book goes beyond popular perceptions of environmentalism to provide a detailed picture of how and when the concerns of industry, society, and tribal governments may converge and when they conflict. As demands for domestic energy exploration increase, it offers clear guidance for such endeavors when native lands are involved.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1903
9 people want to read
About the author
Saleem H. Ali
17 books3 followersDr. Prof. Saleem H. Ali (born, 1973) is a Pakistani American scholar who is the Director of the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining at the University of Queensland Australia. He is also Adjunct Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Natural Resources, and the founding director of the Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security. He is known for his work on environmental conflict resolution, particularly in the extractive industries and was profiled in Forbes magazine in September, 2009 as "The Alchemist." His book "Treasures of the Earth: Need Greed and a Sustainable Future" (Yale University Press, October, 2009) received a cover endorsement by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus for providing a " welcome linkage between environmental behavior and poverty alleviation." In May 2010, he was also chosen by National Geographic as an "emerging explorer" with a profile appearing in the June 2010 issue of National Geographic Magazine. In March 2011, he was also selected by the World Economic Forum as a "Young Global Leader."
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May 29, 2018
This is an extended review of this densely researched book.
In the nineteenth century the American West witnessed mining strikes in every state and territory. With no government organizations to oversee the mining industry, violation of Native American treaty rights and environmental damage were widespread. As a result, mining operators simply pushed American Indians aside to make room for mining towns, and the miners proceeded to appropriate available water for their mining needs. Silt built up in stream beds when the miners washed large chunks of mountainsides away. This is different than in the twenty-first century, when miners can no longer simply file a claim and begin digging; now they must prepare environmental impact statements, see to the safety of their workers, and, in some cases, negotiate with Native American groups for the opportunity to commence mining on tribal lands.
The last scenario, negotiating with Native Americans for the right to mine on tribal lands, is the subject of Mining, the Environment, and Indigenous Development Conflicts, by Saleem Ali. In this well-researched and complex book, Ali sets the scene by describing the current state of relations between Native Americans and the national governments of the United States and Canada. He indicates that even though the period of overt exploitation of Native Americans has ceased, tribes rightly distrust national governments due to past injustices. This serves to complicate negotiations for the right to develop natural resources, especially mining, on Native American lands.
Ali then describes some of the current environmental issues that make mining problematic. It is inherently non-renewable. Once a mineral comes out of the ground, it only renews in geologic time. Mining generates huge quantities of waste rock and sediment that requires disposal, and in some cases the amount taken out of a mine must be backfilled. Chemical pollution and sedimentation of river channels is another negative result, as is draining groundwater so that the mine will not flood. Extraction of certain minerals such as uranium (for its radioactivity) and coal (because of coal dust that can cause respiratory problems) can also pose health risks for workers.
In spite of the many drawbacks, mining companies continue to seek new mineral resources to exploit. Sometimes, profitable concentrations of resources occur on Native American land. Ali uses four case studies, two in the United States (one at Black Mesa, Arizona and the other at Crandon, Minnesota) and two in Canada (at McArthur River, Saskatchewan and Voisey’s Bay, Newfoundland), to examine why some tribes manifest resistance to mining proposals and some do not. He also seeks to identify what factors are most crucial in determining Native American reactions.
Ali looks at the role of the mining companies in negotiations of mining concessions. Shady practices from the past, like the Peabody Coal operation at Black Mesa, draw his attention, but not exclusively. The discussion of past sins comes alongside an effort to find mining companies with more positive records. Ali describes how environmental costs factor in to corporate decisions of whether to attempt mining in any given area and how the companies seek to diversify their risk through horizontal integration. After selecting a potential sight, the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) issued by mining companies seek to reassure the tribes that operations will not disrupt their way of life.
The EISs often brings mining companies into conflict with Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs). Most observers believe that the ENGOs are the natural allies of Native Americans in this debate over mining development. However, Ali finds that this is not always the case. It depends on how they interact with the tribal groups. When the agenda of the ENGOs does not square with the agenda of the tribes, the two groups do not always cooperate. This leads to the conclusion that environmental considerations, though important (some tribes like the Mole Lake Chippewa develop their own environmental standards), are not necessarily the deciding factor in tribal attitudes toward mining.
After laboriously examining each of the four case studies, Ali concludes that issues surrounding tribal sovereignty are the most crucial in determining tribal resistance to mining. Understandably, given the history of exploitation by American and Canadian industry and government, the Native Americans involved in negotiations want to make decisions for themselves. This explains why the uranium mining projects at McArthur River, Saskatchewan are going forward while proposed operations at Crandon, Minnesota have meet with bitter opposition despite possible negative environmental impacts at both sites. Scientific research informs the discussion, but is subordinate to tribal sovereignty in the decision-making process.
Mining, the Environment, and Indigenous Development Conflicts ends with a densely researched examination of how mining companies and tribes can best work together and negotiate for their mutual benefit. Following his own model of player linkage in mining development, Ali examines the factors tribes consider in their decisions, with the assertion of sovereignty at the heart of the model. The book closes with a comparison of United States and Canadian policy in terms of tribal sovereignty, proposing ways that each country can learn from the other.
The depth of research Ali has done is obvious. The works cited list alone takes up fifteen pages and contains roughly 225 entries. There are numerous technical discussions of different aspects of the mining process. For example, he examines potential radon emissions at the Deilmann pit at McArthur River and finds that 26.2 Bq/m2/sec will emanate from the pit. (113) It is equally obvious that Ali has a thorough grounding in various theories that pertain to relationships between groups as well as organizational theories of how groups are structured. Nearly every chapter contains models, charts, or tables that represent these theories applied to the research. The depth of research he presents is commendable. Ali’s neutrality is also worthy of note. Instead of taking a reflexive position that development takes precedence over environmental considerations, or falling for the stereotype that all American Indians are natural environmentalists, there is balance in his discussions of this topic.
However, there are issues with this book. The most critical issue is that it discusses so many theories (and critiques many of them as well), and contains so much technical jargon that the narrative becomes tortured. It frequently digresses into single-paragraph critiques of various theories that can not be critiqued meaningfully in one paragraph. Simply put, the book is hard to get through without extensive knowledge of the theories Ali brings to his argument. In addition, many of the quotes do not pack much punch.
The difficulty of the narrative is unfortunate. This work contains a great deal of useful information and research; it is a shame all that detail is not in a more readily readable account. Because this is a website for people who like to read, this is a major drawback. There is also the fact that it is a collection of four case studies, and as such, its conclusions are not generally applicable due to sample size. It may well be true that many other tribes feel similarly to those Ali studied, and he does not claim universality for his conclusions, but that does give the study limited applicability.
In the nineteenth century the American West witnessed mining strikes in every state and territory. With no government organizations to oversee the mining industry, violation of Native American treaty rights and environmental damage were widespread. As a result, mining operators simply pushed American Indians aside to make room for mining towns, and the miners proceeded to appropriate available water for their mining needs. Silt built up in stream beds when the miners washed large chunks of mountainsides away. This is different than in the twenty-first century, when miners can no longer simply file a claim and begin digging; now they must prepare environmental impact statements, see to the safety of their workers, and, in some cases, negotiate with Native American groups for the opportunity to commence mining on tribal lands.
The last scenario, negotiating with Native Americans for the right to mine on tribal lands, is the subject of Mining, the Environment, and Indigenous Development Conflicts, by Saleem Ali. In this well-researched and complex book, Ali sets the scene by describing the current state of relations between Native Americans and the national governments of the United States and Canada. He indicates that even though the period of overt exploitation of Native Americans has ceased, tribes rightly distrust national governments due to past injustices. This serves to complicate negotiations for the right to develop natural resources, especially mining, on Native American lands.
Ali then describes some of the current environmental issues that make mining problematic. It is inherently non-renewable. Once a mineral comes out of the ground, it only renews in geologic time. Mining generates huge quantities of waste rock and sediment that requires disposal, and in some cases the amount taken out of a mine must be backfilled. Chemical pollution and sedimentation of river channels is another negative result, as is draining groundwater so that the mine will not flood. Extraction of certain minerals such as uranium (for its radioactivity) and coal (because of coal dust that can cause respiratory problems) can also pose health risks for workers.
In spite of the many drawbacks, mining companies continue to seek new mineral resources to exploit. Sometimes, profitable concentrations of resources occur on Native American land. Ali uses four case studies, two in the United States (one at Black Mesa, Arizona and the other at Crandon, Minnesota) and two in Canada (at McArthur River, Saskatchewan and Voisey’s Bay, Newfoundland), to examine why some tribes manifest resistance to mining proposals and some do not. He also seeks to identify what factors are most crucial in determining Native American reactions.
Ali looks at the role of the mining companies in negotiations of mining concessions. Shady practices from the past, like the Peabody Coal operation at Black Mesa, draw his attention, but not exclusively. The discussion of past sins comes alongside an effort to find mining companies with more positive records. Ali describes how environmental costs factor in to corporate decisions of whether to attempt mining in any given area and how the companies seek to diversify their risk through horizontal integration. After selecting a potential sight, the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) issued by mining companies seek to reassure the tribes that operations will not disrupt their way of life.
The EISs often brings mining companies into conflict with Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs). Most observers believe that the ENGOs are the natural allies of Native Americans in this debate over mining development. However, Ali finds that this is not always the case. It depends on how they interact with the tribal groups. When the agenda of the ENGOs does not square with the agenda of the tribes, the two groups do not always cooperate. This leads to the conclusion that environmental considerations, though important (some tribes like the Mole Lake Chippewa develop their own environmental standards), are not necessarily the deciding factor in tribal attitudes toward mining.
After laboriously examining each of the four case studies, Ali concludes that issues surrounding tribal sovereignty are the most crucial in determining tribal resistance to mining. Understandably, given the history of exploitation by American and Canadian industry and government, the Native Americans involved in negotiations want to make decisions for themselves. This explains why the uranium mining projects at McArthur River, Saskatchewan are going forward while proposed operations at Crandon, Minnesota have meet with bitter opposition despite possible negative environmental impacts at both sites. Scientific research informs the discussion, but is subordinate to tribal sovereignty in the decision-making process.
Mining, the Environment, and Indigenous Development Conflicts ends with a densely researched examination of how mining companies and tribes can best work together and negotiate for their mutual benefit. Following his own model of player linkage in mining development, Ali examines the factors tribes consider in their decisions, with the assertion of sovereignty at the heart of the model. The book closes with a comparison of United States and Canadian policy in terms of tribal sovereignty, proposing ways that each country can learn from the other.
The depth of research Ali has done is obvious. The works cited list alone takes up fifteen pages and contains roughly 225 entries. There are numerous technical discussions of different aspects of the mining process. For example, he examines potential radon emissions at the Deilmann pit at McArthur River and finds that 26.2 Bq/m2/sec will emanate from the pit. (113) It is equally obvious that Ali has a thorough grounding in various theories that pertain to relationships between groups as well as organizational theories of how groups are structured. Nearly every chapter contains models, charts, or tables that represent these theories applied to the research. The depth of research he presents is commendable. Ali’s neutrality is also worthy of note. Instead of taking a reflexive position that development takes precedence over environmental considerations, or falling for the stereotype that all American Indians are natural environmentalists, there is balance in his discussions of this topic.
However, there are issues with this book. The most critical issue is that it discusses so many theories (and critiques many of them as well), and contains so much technical jargon that the narrative becomes tortured. It frequently digresses into single-paragraph critiques of various theories that can not be critiqued meaningfully in one paragraph. Simply put, the book is hard to get through without extensive knowledge of the theories Ali brings to his argument. In addition, many of the quotes do not pack much punch.
The difficulty of the narrative is unfortunate. This work contains a great deal of useful information and research; it is a shame all that detail is not in a more readily readable account. Because this is a website for people who like to read, this is a major drawback. There is also the fact that it is a collection of four case studies, and as such, its conclusions are not generally applicable due to sample size. It may well be true that many other tribes feel similarly to those Ali studied, and he does not claim universality for his conclusions, but that does give the study limited applicability.
Displaying 1 of 1 review