Inuit Call For Uranium Mining Moratorium In The Northwest Territories & Northern Labrador

Following a British Columbia moratorium on uranium mining and exploration in British Columbia Inuit became concerned that the result would be intensified exploration/mining on Inuit lands in the NWT and Labrador.

On February 28, 1980, ITC president Michael Amarook sent a telegram to Prime Minister Trudeau requesting that a 7 year moratorium also be put in place in the Northwest Territories.

In addition to the moratorium Amarook urged the creation of a board of inquiry to investigate the socio-cultural and environmental impact which mining exploration and development have upon the North and its indigenous populations.

At the same time ITC announced that it would also be sending a request to the Premier of Newfoundland & Labrador for a moratorium in Northern Labrador.