From: Chris Lepard [chris@canningperennials.com] Sent: December 8, 2008 1:58 PM To: lpayette@nirb.ca Subject: NIRB File 08EN037 Uravan Garry Lake Project Dear NIRB Members: We are writing to ask that you deny the Uravan application for mineral development on the Beverly caribou calving grounds. As Canadians and frequent visitors to the north country we want to see the caribou and its habitat protected. The caribou are the spirit of the north. They are the heart and sustenance of native people and a powerful spiritual icon. If we allow this creature to disappear we will be losing a vital part of our heritage not to mention food for thousands of people. Several major mining companies like De Beers, Areva and Cameco, have declared they will no longer conduct activities on the calving grounds of the Nunavut caribou as they now understand the devastating consequences of this activity. And at the NWT Barren-ground Caribou Summit in 2007, delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of establishing as their first priority as 'Protect the calving grounds in NWT and Nunavut'. As mining activity has increased caribou numbers have been declining sharply. A just-released survey of the Beverly herd caribou suggests that the number of caribou cows on the calving grounds had declined by a stunning 98% over the last 14 years. In the past few years, while caribou numbers have been dropping, disruptive mineral exploration activity on the calving grounds and the adjacent post-calving aggregation areas has risen dramatically. As of this month there are 727 active mineral tenures on the Beverly calving grounds. Clearly this type of industrial activity is not sustainable. Mining is and will be very important to the development of the north. However if we do not want our amazing northern country destroyed, it's magnificent animals rendered extinct some restrains, limits and guidelines are needed. Clearly we are now at a cross-roads and it is time to say NO to industrial activity that threatens our caribou. Please say NO to the Uravan proposal. In the early days when animals and men could change shape and all spoke the same language a spirit came and took a human woman for his wife. He lived among the humans, but did not hunt, for he had no need of food. Over time, the men became angry with the spirit because he did not hunt. The hunters warned the spirit that he must hunt, or leave the village. The spirit walked away, out over the land, away from the village. After many kilometers, he stopped and punched a hole into the ground, and a caribou jumped out. The spirit immediately killed the caribou and covered the hole. He took the dead caribou back to camp, proving that he was indeed a hunter. The next day the spirit went out on the land again, but another hunter, secretly followed him. The hunter watched as the spirit punched a hole in the ground. Once again, a caribou jumped out and was killed by the spirit. The spirit carefully covered the hole and returned to the village with his meat. After the spirit had left, the watchful hunter uncovered the hole. Out jumped a caribou! The man was so frightened that he ran away, leaving the hole uncovered. Many caribou came out of the hole, until they dotted the land. Caribou -- legend, spirit, animal, food. If we allow this animal to be destroyed we will loose some of our humanity. Respectfully, Chris and Joh Lepard chris@canningperennials.com www.canningperennials.com Ph: 519-458-4271 Fax: 519-458-8567 955309 Canning Rd. RR 22 Paris, ON N3L 3E2