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Big Trout Lake, Ontario -- December 14, 2009.
Chief Donny Morris said, "I consider the decision of Platinex to not proceed with mining exploration in our territory as a major vlctory. My community was determined to stop Platinex and the Ontario government from arbitrarily imposing a mine at Nemeigusabins Lake." Chief Donny Morris said, "But what is more important to the people of Ontario is what kind of arrangement the Ontario government will ultimately make with the indigenous peeples of Kitchenuhmaykoosib (KI):" The Chief and Council and Ontario government agreed to develop a Memorandum of Cooperation. Chief Donny Morris said, "The Memorandum of Cooperation will become a model of how future problems like this will not happen again. The province needs to know that mining is a very serious issue for us. We went to jail to protect our land and we were prepared to go back to jail if necessary. I think the province needs to recognize that our free prior informed consent is necessary or mining development in the north could become a very expensive failure:"