#mineralextraction — Public Fediverse posts

#Colorado’s dirty secret: A $500 billion #mining industry built on #Indigenous land

A new report says that it’s only a fraction of the almost $2 trillion the state has made on #StolenLand.

By Taylar Dawn Stagner ● Environment, Tribes ● July 8, 2024

"Skiing, hiking, and other outdoor recreational pastimes have lent Colorado a woodsy — and environmentally friendly — reputation. This image is at odds with the state’s first and biggest industry: #MineralExtraction. From 1858 to 2022, mineral extraction in Colorado has amounted to a $546 billion dollar industry. The state remains one of the leaders in #coal and #gold, but the state is also home to #oil, natural #gas, #limestone, and #helium mining.

"Contrary to the carefree spirit of those outdoor activities that the state is known for, the growth of mining, and the development of its extractive practices, all have origins in the #genocide and forced displacement of #IndigenousPeoples native to the region. A new report by a nonprofit organization called People of the Sacred Land traces the history of how state and federal officials have 'systematically undermined Tribal #sovereignty and #Native self-governance through tactics like genocide and illegal land dispossession to exploit the wealth and resources of Tribal Nations.'"

[...]

"Starting in the late 18th century, a series of legislations established that settlers could not purchase land in the Colorado territory, but many settlers did so anyway, buying land from territorial governments and effectively excluding the tribes from the process. The report names #Denver, #Boulder, #ColoradoSprings, and #PuebloColorado as illegally established on #unceded Native lands. The United States was supposed to protect land belonging to tribes, but as settlers were drawn to the area via the gold rush, the United States failed to protect the land and eventually stopped trying, according to the report.

"In the mid 1800s, tribes were often removed from their land under the threat of violence, or coerced into signing treaties under duress to make room for more settlers, who were interested in the newly established Colorado Territory. But the tribes were never fairly compensated.

[...]

"Colorado’s long history of mining has contributed to #deforestation and water and #AirPollution. 'Mining is an inherently destructive and invasive process, and it continues to impact the surrounding land, water, atmosphere, flora, and fauna long after sites have been abandoned.' the report said. Even unused mines still pose a danger to the environment. Currently there are 23,000 abandoned mines that impair the water quality of streams in Colorado."

Read more:
https://grist.org/indigenous/colorado-mining-industry-indigenous-land/

#InformedConsent #StolenLand #CorporateColonialism #CulturalGenocide #EnvironmentalRacism #LandBack
#WaterIsLife #IndigenousLands #IndigenousRights

#Colorado’s dirty secret: A $500 billion #mining industry built on #Indigenous land

A new report says that it’s only a fraction of the almost $2 trillion the state has made on #StolenLand.

By Taylar Dawn Stagner ● Environment, Tribes ● July 8, 2024

"Skiing, hiking, and other outdoor recreational pastimes have lent Colorado a woodsy — and environmentally friendly — reputation. This image is at odds with the state’s first and biggest industry: #MineralExtraction. From 1858 to 2022, mineral extraction in Colorado has amounted to a $546 billion dollar industry. The state remains one of the leaders in #coal and #gold, but the state is also home to #oil, natural #gas, #limestone, and #helium mining.

"Contrary to the carefree spirit of those outdoor activities that the state is known for, the growth of mining, and the development of its extractive practices, all have origins in the #genocide and forced displacement of #IndigenousPeoples native to the region. A new report by a nonprofit organization called People of the Sacred Land traces the history of how state and federal officials have 'systematically undermined Tribal #sovereignty and #Native self-governance through tactics like genocide and illegal land dispossession to exploit the wealth and resources of Tribal Nations.'"

[...]

"Starting in the late 18th century, a series of legislations established that settlers could not purchase land in the Colorado territory, but many settlers did so anyway, buying land from territorial governments and effectively excluding the tribes from the process. The report names #Denver, #Boulder, #ColoradoSprings, and #PuebloColorado as illegally established on #unceded Native lands. The United States was supposed to protect land belonging to tribes, but as settlers were drawn to the area via the gold rush, the United States failed to protect the land and eventually stopped trying, according to the report.

"In the mid 1800s, tribes were often removed from their land under the threat of violence, or coerced into signing treaties under duress to make room for more settlers, who were interested in the newly established Colorado Territory. But the tribes were never fairly compensated.

[...]

"Colorado’s long history of mining has contributed to #deforestation and water and #AirPollution. 'Mining is an inherently destructive and invasive process, and it continues to impact the surrounding land, water, atmosphere, flora, and fauna long after sites have been abandoned.' the report said. Even unused mines still pose a danger to the environment. Currently there are 23,000 abandoned mines that impair the water quality of streams in Colorado."

Read more:
https://grist.org/indigenous/colorado-mining-industry-indigenous-land/

#InformedConsent #StolenLand #CorporateColonialism #CulturalGenocide #EnvironmentalRacism #LandBack
#WaterIsLife #IndigenousLands #IndigenousRights