OPINION: The Donlin gold mine poses too much risk to our lands in Southwest Alaska

This week, shareholders of Canada-based mining giant Barrick Gold gathered in Toronto for their annual meeting. Simultaneously, tribal governments 3,500 miles away in Alaska’s Kuskokwim River delta have implored Barrick Gold’s board of directors to withdraw financial support from development of a mine which is proposed to be built in the headwaters of our people’s life source, the Kuskokwim River.

On May 2, I got up at 5:30 a.m. to call into Barrick’s meeting, so that the shareholders of this giant multinational corporation could hear directly the truth that across the Yukon-Kuskokwim region, our tribes have decided that Donlin poses too much risk to our lands and our food sources — which, as sovereign tribal nations, we have an obligation to protect so that we can ensure responsible development, offering sustainability for future generations. Development of the Donlin Prospect is officially opposed by the Association of Village Council Presidents representing 56 tribal governments in the region; the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. and the National Congress of American Indians.

Barrick Gold is the world’s largest gold “producer,” and across the globe in places where Barrick has developed, frontline communities are standing up to shine a light on the fact that Barrick is not the upstanding corporate citizen that their glossy marketing materials claim. Between human rights abuses and water contamination impacts at projects in South America and Africa, Barrick is not the “good neighbor” we want to invite into our region. This is why this week, our tribes are once again speaking directly to Barrick’s board of directors, calling on them to walk away from Donlin. Barrick lacks the free prior and informed consent of our tribal governments to develop what would be the world’s largest pure gold mine, an cyanide leach open-pit mine in the headwaters of our life source, the Kuskokwim River.

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in Southwest Alaska is a vast river, a wildlife-rich land where musk ox, fish, moose, wild onions, mint and roses grow. Along these lands and waters, which have long been home to Yup’ik, Cup’ik, and Dene’ people. We savor everything the land provides. In our culture, there is no concept of “byproduct,” as every part harvested is incorporated into our diet, our tools, clothes, jewelry, dolls, and drums. That animal’s spirit becomes a part of our lives, bringing the spiritual into our physical reality and connecting us even more deeply with the land. But now, the lands and waters we rely on are facing an existential threat.

The proposed Donlin mine would disrupt salmon spawning creeks and wetlands, creating massive open pits and toxic waste storage ponds. Gold mining is not compatible with a clean-energy future, as 80% of mined gold is used for jewelry or bullion stored in bank vaults. The mine would eliminate vital salmon spawning waters, disturb mercury-rich ore, and change animal migration patterns, going against our values and threatening the integrity of our lands, animals and people.

Eliminating miles of salmon spawning waters, pulling up mercury-ridden ore, and obstructing migration patterns of our animals do not uphold our values. Donlin Gold goes against every ounce of our values. It will harm our lands and animals and will directly affect the spirit of our foods — which affects our peoples. Barrick needs to hear this and pack their bags and go.

The full list of tribes signed onto the divestment request letter: Orutsararmiut Native Council, Native Village of Eek, Kasigluk Traditional Council, Chuloonawick Native Village, Kongiganak Traditional Council, Native Village of Tununak, Chevak Traditional Council, Native Village of Napakiak, and Kotlik Traditional Council.

Anaan’arar Sophie Swope was born and raised in Mamterilleq (Bethel), where she leads the Mother Kuskokwim Tribal Coalition in their mission to uplift the voices of tribal citizens and communities of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

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