GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: Fighting uranium exploration in Canada

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05-03-2025

Deusdedit RuhangariyoSpecial to ICT
Around the world: Canada's Supreme Court allows Métis Nation-Saskatchewan to challenge uranium permits, micro-hydro power generates electricity for remote villages in the Philippines, Indigenous celebrities speak up for road safety in Australia, and Thailand deports 40 Uyghurs to China
CANADA: Supreme Court allows uranium permit challenge
Canada's Supreme Court has ruled that the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan may proceed with its challenge against three provincial uranium exploration permits, APTN News reported on Feb. 28.
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In a unanimous ruling, the court rejected Saskatchewan's challenge to a lawsuit claiming the Métis Nation was not consulted before uranium exploration permits were granted.
The decision allows the Métis Nation to move forward with legal proceedings against the province after three permits were issued in northwest Saskatchewan near Patterson Lake three years ago.
The legal battle dates back to 1994, when the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan took the province to court, seeking recognition of its Aboriginal title and commercial harvesting rights in Saskatchewan's northwest.
The Métis Nation filed the lawsuit in 2021, asserting that it holds Aboriginal title and rights over the land in question and that Saskatchewan 'refused to consult' before approving the uranium permits.
A Court of King's Bench judge initially sided with Saskatchewan, striking parts of the lawsuit concerning those claims. However, the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan appealed the decision and successfully had the entire case reinstated.
PHILIPPINES: Micro-hydro power brings electricity to remote villages
Micro-hydro initiatives have flourished in the Philippines, bringing electricity for the first time to remote villages in Indigenous communities, Mongabay reported on Feb. 27.
Although an estimated 3.6 million Philippine households remain off the grid, work by communities and civic groups have helped build small-scale hydroelectric generators that can be used in remote areas.
The first time 52-year-old Juliana Balweg-Baawa switched on the light in her home, she jumped for joy. 'My children can study at night!' she said.
Until her village, Mataragan, was electrified in 2003, she relied on gas lamps. Electricity changed everything—her children finished high school, and she started selling frozen meat and cold drinks.
Mataragan now has two micro-hydro generators — one for homes and another for irrigating rice fields and processing crops.
Across the Cordillera mountains, Indigenous villages have embraced micro-hydro as an alternative to large dams, which often displace communities. In 2002, Bubot Bagwan and neighbors from Pangued, a village near Mataragan, trekked for a week carrying cement and machine parts on horseback to build their own generator.
'The micro-hydro got here before any car or road did,' said Bagwan, according to Mongabay.
Today, Pangued remains without a paved road, but it has steady electricity.
Still, electrification remains a challenge in isolated areas. The government aims for 100 percent electrification by 2028, but funding falls short. Ernesto Silvano, Jr., of the National Electrification Administration, admits that many remote areas are 'too isolated' for grid expansion.
Instead, the government offers a Solar Home System alternative, but budget constraints limit its reach.
Communities handle construction and maintenance, keeping costs low. But the government's push for grid expansion could mean higher costs for residents. Micro-hydro users pay 5-7 pesos per kilowatt-hour, while the grid costs up to 17.6 pesos.
AUSTRALIA: Indigenous voices unite for road safety
Two celebrities in Australia have joined forces to encourage communities to improve their driving habits in support of the Australian government's Safer Driving Starts with You campaign, National Indigenous Times reported Feb. 28.
Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung musician Troy Cassar-Daley and former professional rugby star Scott Prince, who is Kalkadoon, shared their personal experiences with dangers on the roadway.
The campaign comes as the national road toll reaches its highest point in over a decade, with Indigenous Australians facing a road fatality rate more than three times higher than the rest of the population.
Cassar-Daley shares that his years of touring have given him firsthand experience with reckless drivers.
"I've seen worse behaviour on the roads than at any concert – and often from very experienced drivers," he said.
He urged motorists to stay focused, control their emotions, and consider the consequences of their actions. "You wouldn't do dumb or inconsiderate things outside of a car, so why do them in one?" he added, according to National Indigenous Times.
Prince recalled the devastating loss of his father in an accident just weeks after his 21st birthday.
"I think about him every day," he said, according to National Indigenous Times. 'None of us think it can happen to us, but you just never know."
The campaign message — "Don't let a car change who you are – Safer driving starts with you" — urges all road users to take responsibility behind the wheel.
Indigenous Australians are 30 percent more likely to be hospitalized due to road crashes, highlighting the urgent need for safer driving practices.
THAILAND: Uyghurs deported to China
Four ethnic Uyghurs detained in a Thai prison broke down in tears upon hearing that 40 of their friends had been deported to China after spending more than a decade in a Thai immigration facility, a friend of the men said after a visit, Radio Free Asia reported on Feb. 28.
Thailand sent 40 Uyghurs back to China on Thursday, Feb. 27, disregarding warnings from the U.S., the United Nations and human rights groups that they could face torture upon their return to Xinjiang, the region they fled more than 10 years ago.
'They were devastated,' said the friend, who gave her name only as Marzeryya while speaking to Radio Free Asia affiliate BenarNews. 'They cried, something I had never seen them do before, because they are deeply worried about their friends.'
Five Uyghurs remain behind bars at Bangkok's Klong Prem prison, where they were placed after an escape attempt. Marzeryya, who visited four of them on Friday, said it remains unclear why they were not sent back to China along with the others.
Defending the deportations, Thai officials said they were acting on an 'official request' from China and had been given high-level assurances regarding the men's well-being. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, addressing concerns that the move could strain diplomatic ties with the U.S., denied that Thailand had sent the men back in exchange for economic favors from China.
'This is about people, not goods. People are not merchandise. We definitely did not trade them,' she told reporters, according to Radio Free Asia.
Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group in China's Xinjiang region, have faced serious allegations of human rights abuses, including mass detentions in large internment camps. While Beijing denies these accusations, U.N. experts warned on Jan. 21 that the Uyghurs detained in Thailand would likely face torture if sent back and urged Thai authorities to halt their deportation.
My final thoughts
My final thoughts are in Canada where the Supreme Court's decision to let the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan move forward with its legal challenge is a big win for Indigenous rights.
By rejecting Saskatchewan's attempt to shut down the case, the court made clear that governments can't hand out resource permits without consulting the people whose land is at stake. This ruling sends a strong message: Indigenous voices matter, and their rights deserve legal protection.
The duty to consult isn't just a formality — it's a crucial safeguard against governments and corporations making decisions that could harm Indigenous communities. The Supreme Court's ruling reinforces that Indigenous groups have a right to be heard when projects like uranium exploration threaten their land and way of life. Ignoring this not only disregards legal obligations but also deepens historical injustices.
Looking ahead, courts need to take Indigenous legal traditions seriously. Indigenous laws and governance systems should be respected alongside Canadian law, ensuring a fairer approach to land disputes. When Indigenous perspectives are included in legal decisions, it strengthens reconciliation efforts and acknowledges their long-standing connection to the land.
Fighting for land rights shouldn't be an uphill battle. Indigenous communities deserve better access to legal support so they can navigate the court system without unnecessary obstacles. Financial barriers, legal red tape, and lengthy court delays often make justice feel out of reach.
By addressing these issues, courts can help create a system where Indigenous people have a real chance to protect their land and their future.
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