Sokaogon (Mole Lake) Chippewa delegate Robert Van Zile with other delegates to the World Summit on Sustainable Devlopment in South Africa, August 2002.

A meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, between a delegation of Wisconsin Chippewa and the executives of the giant mining company that wants to build a mine near their reservation commenced with a prayer and pipe ceremony.

It then stretched nearly 1 hours beyond the sixty minutes that had been set aside.

The meeting took place Friday as members of the Sokaogon Chippewa delegation met with executives from the multinational mining corporation BHP Billiton.

It was the first time tribal members have met with mining officials.

Although they received no commitments, members of the delegation say company executives appear willing to work with the band, one of the smallest and poorest in the nation, to end the 25-year-old controversy over building a zinc and copper mine on the headwaters of the Wolf River.

The delegation from the Mole Lake reservation, which is adjacent to the proposed mine near Crandon, traveled to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa.

They participated in the summit, meeting with other indigenous groups, and met Friday with mining company officials. They are scheduled to return to Wisconsin today.

The band, along with a coalition of other tribal and environmental groups, has proposed that the state of Wisconsin buy the mine site as well as the mining rights to end the long debate over whether a mine should be built on the headwaters of the Wolf, one of the state's most popular and pristine rivers.

"Although no concessions were made," said Sokaogon attorney Glen Reynolds, "I think the company executives could see that mining in this area is completely incompatible with the concept of sustainability and respect for the integrity of indigenous cultures."

Corporate officials weren't immediately available for comment.

Reynolds, who arranged the meeting and was in attendance, said the company was interested in discussing the state's possible purchase of the mine because of a newly released study, paid for by the international mining industry, called "Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development."

The report recommends creating "no-go zones," which are areas of high environmental sensitivity as well as places of importance to indigenous communities.

"If there ever was a no-go zone, this is it," said Reynolds. "While the zinc and copper market is currently flooded with ore, there are no more ecosystems like the Wolf River or Rice Lake that are being produced."

Sokaogon spiritual leader Robert Van Zile conducted the pipe ceremony to begin the meeting, using a ceremonial pipe the tribal members had carried with them from Wisconsin. The ban on smoking in the corporate board room was temporarily lifted for the occasion and BHP Billiton executives, including CEO Brian Gilbertson, participated in the ceremony.

During the meeting, Roman Ferdinand, a hydrologist with the band, told the mining company executives that, although the Crandon deposit is a rich ore body, the waste it will produce has one of the highest toxic chemical compositions of any ore body in North America.

"The only engineering solutions available to prevent heavy metals and acids from eventually washing downstream for the next ten thousand years is to pump, treat, and mitigate forever," Ferdinand said. "That is a terrible legacy for future generations."

Reynolds said the meeting was a historic one for the Chippewa. " We had a good exchange of views and potential remedies to resolve this controversy," Reynolds said.

Sokaogon delegate Ken Van Zile said meeting other indigenous people who are waging similar fights was worth the trip.

"I have been inspired by the countless small groups and communities from all over the world that have been represented here," Ken said. "We have met indigenous people from all over the world who are fighting similar battles ...being with them for this short time has reaffirmed my hope for the future of our people."

Johannesburg, South Africa. As the heads of State arrive in Johannesburg for the photo opportunities and handshakes in the final days of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Sokaogon Chippewa delegation heads home to Wisconsin. The delegation is expected to arrive in the United States Tuesday afternoon, around the time that Secretary of State Collin Powel will land in South Africa for a brief, largely symbolic visit.

One of the only world leaders who will not be attending is George Bush whose Administration has made daily headlines in South Africa for blocking efforts to agree on any timelines for implementing plans to address such vital issues as access to clean water, sanitation, poverty, global warming, renewable energy, biodiversity, or food security which were agreed upon at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro 10 years ago. The headline for the Johannesburg Sunday Times reads "Summit Leaves USA Standing Alone". Delegates representing the other nations and NGO's express their disappointment that a country with only 7% of the world's population which consumes 25% of the world's natural resources annually and generates the most pollution is uninterested in any agreement to become less wasteful, more responsible.

Sokaogon Chippewa delegate Ken Van Zile is anxious to return home at the start of the annual ricing season. "I feel we have done our part and I don't see any need to hang around and watch the fanfare. Frankly, I am miffed that my country, which is the richest and most powerful nation on earth, has shown such a blatant disregard for the rest of humanity. As Ojibwa, we have always been taught to share what we have. It looks like its all about money. I have been inspired by the countless small groups and communities from all over the world that have been represented here. We have met indigenous people from all over the world who are fighting similar battles. These are the people that will ultimately create a sustainable future. Being with them for this short time has reaffirmed my hope for the future of our people. Our Tribe is as committed as ever to protect our water, and wild rice. This is far better than cash in the bank. I can't wait to get back home for ricing.

Fellow delegate Robert Van Zile agrees. "Nothing has really changed. Corporations are now just using different language. Buzzwords like 'sustainability' are meaningless without the commitment to do things differently. It will take the work of visionaries within the corporations to make a real difference. This trip has strengthen my resolve to continue to oppose destructive mine projects such as Crandon and help other tribes and communities preserve their land and water. I realize how our struggle against the Crandon project is similar to many others around the world. I am heartened by international community's willingness to help us defeat this short - sighted, destructive mine."

On Friday, August 30, 2002, the Sokaogon Chippewa delegation along with their technical expert Roman Ferdinand and their lawyer Glenn Reynolds met with BHP Billiton CEO Brian Gilbertson and staff to discuss the Crandon proposal and the Company's recent suggestion to sell the project lands to Wisconsin. The meeting followed the unveiling of a three-year study of the international mining industry by an independent agency. The work was funded by the largest mining companies in the world and is called "Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development" (MMSD).

Glenn Reynolds, the Sokaogon Attorney who was involved in arranging the meeting was pleased with the outcome. "This was an historic event. Opening a dialogue with the community most impacted by a project is a key tenet of the industry's new vision of sustainable mining. We had a good exchange of views and potential remedies to resolve this controversy. Although no concessions were made, I think the Company executives could see that mining in this area is completely incompatible with the concept of sustainability and respect for the integrity of indigenous cultures. The Company appears committed to find a resolution that satisfies all parties. Mr. Gilbertson was courteous, inquisitive and generous with his time".

The meeting, which was supposed to last one hour continued for almost two and one half hours. It began with a prayer and a pipe ceremony conducted by the Sokaogon spiritual leader, Robert Van Zile. The "no- smoking" ban in the corporate boardroom was temporarily lifted to allow the ceremony to take place in which the BHP Billiton executives fully participated.

International Groups involved in the public release of the MMSD project encouraged the industry in the name of sustainability to recognize "no-go zones" or areas which because of high environmental sensitivity and the presence of indigenous communities should never be mined under any circumstances. "If there ever was a "no-go" zone, this is it," noted Reynolds. Aside from higher mercury levels that come from air deposition, the water in Rice Lake and Swamp Creek is as pure as when the glaciers receded over 10,000 years ago. While the zinc and copper market is currently flooded with ore, there are no more ecosystems like the Wolf River or Rice Lake that are being produced. The temporary benefits accorded to a handful of people in the local area are not worth losing such a precious and irreplaceable resource. Roman Ferdinand reminded the Company executives that although the Crandon deposit is a rich ore body, the waste it will produce has one of the highest toxic chemical compositions of any ore in North America. "The only engineering solutions available to prevent heavy metals and acids from eventually washing downstream for the next ten thousand years is to pump, treat and mitigate forever. That is a terrible legacy for future generations".

"The Crandon mine proposal is a global issue," noted Robert Van Zile. This Project is a metaphor for this whole conference. "Water is necessary for life. Metals are needed for wealth. Which is more important? I will not sit back and let corporate greed rob our future generations of their rights to have access to pure water." "We are actually lucky, said Ken Van Zile. "At least our lakes, streams and wild rice are still pristine. Some communities are not so fortunate."