TAMARACK — Over a dozen people gathered at Big Sandy Lake in McGregor to offer prayers for the water near the proposed copper-nickel Tamarack Mine early Saturday morning, July 25.
Then, the women took turns carrying a bucket of water along the 13-mile route to Tamarack.
In Ojibwe tradition, women are responsible for the water. They walked in silence as they passed lakes and wetlands, moving continuously to symbolize water flowing. The men took turns holding an eagle staff behind them for protection.
Water Walks — also known as Nibi Walks — come from Josephine Mandamin, an Anishinaabe elder and founder of the Water Protectors movement. Mandamin walked the shores of all five Great Lakes to raise awareness and pray for the water. The practice has since spread.
“Every step is a prayer,” said Leanna Goose, who helped organize the walk to Tamarack. “It was a way to pray for the water, manoomin, the fish, every living being in this area, because it is under threat from this proposed copper-nickel mine.”
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the mine would be located about 1.5 miles north of Tamarack and operated by Talon Metals. The company’s plan is to extract ore containing nickel, copper or other metals for the domestic battery supply chain. The extracted material would be transported to sites in North Dakota and Michigan for processing.
The proposed mine is now in the public scoping comment period. It is the first underground or primarily nickel mine to do so in the state. Future steps for the proposal include drafting an environmental impact statement for public review.
“As a company, we're looking to responsibly produce those minerals that society relies on and make sure that we're doing it in a safe way,” said Talon Metals External Affairs Manager Jessica Johnson in a phone interview July 29.
According to the company, it has safety — and the environment — in mind with the proposed project.
“The design itself is all revolved around safety: safety for the environment, but also safety for the employees that would work here, and then safety for the community,” Johnson said.
But many of those attending the Water Walk have doubts. Goose said she is concerned that the mine could not only harm the local community but have widespread impact.
“This is the Mississippi River watershed. It's a water that provides drinking water to millions of people downstream, and it cannot become a sacrifice zone,” she said.
Goose said that along the way, those walking were reminded of what’s at stake.
“We saw the butterflies, the bees. We saw otter this morning. We saw a flock of geese crossing the road. And it was just a really beautiful example of what we're fighting to protect,” she said.
Dawn Goodwin participated in the Water Walk to support the lake and the people who live nearby.
She called the plan foolish and shortsighted.
“No mine like this has been nontoxic. The water filtration methods are very expensive and not foolproof. I’ve been learning how dangerous it can be,” Goodwin said.
A prominent concern among those opposed to the proposed mining project is the potential risk to nearby waterbodies. Sulfates created in the mining process can seriously harm wild rice growth due to its sensitivity to sulfate levels, as well as lead to mercury contamination in fish. Mine waste can also create acid mine drainage and contaminate waters with heavy metals.
“As a mining engineer, as somebody that was responsible for people, we're here to try to change the direction that we can see this thing going."Chris Baldwin, Water Walk attendee
Water Walk attendee Chris Baldwin spent 43 years in mining.
“As a mining engineer, as somebody that was responsible for people, we're here to try to change the direction that we can see this thing going. I am very concerned about methylmercury and fish,” Baldwin said.
The Scoping Environmental Assessment Worksheet and Draft Scoping Decision Document for the proposed Tamarack Mining Project is open for public comment until Sept. 14.
Stella Mayerhoff is a Report for America corps member, covering Minnesota’s headwaters region for KAXE in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Report for America places talented journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and regions.
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