Right now, Manitoba is experiencing a “peat rush” like never before. In January this year, we banded together to fight against a peat mine in Hecla Park. In the last couple of years, five peat mine proposals have been submitted to the government. Three licenses have been issued, of which two are under appeal. One proposal -- for the Hecla Park peat strip mine -- is still being considered, even though the overwhelming majority of Manitobans said they don’t want it. Now a new peat proposal is under public consultation -- Sunterra’s proposal to open up THREE SEPARATE NEW PEAT MINES. Almost all of these peat mines are in Peguis First Nation traditional territory.

Below is a letter given to the Wilderness Committee to publish, regarding peat mining and what drives this “peat rush”.

Good day everyone!

My name is Mike Sutherland. I am from the Peguis First Nation. I’m an elected official and councillor. I want to make a statement here about peat moss harvesting.

As a person from the land, a traditional user of the land, I would like to pass on to the readers the detrimental effect peatland harvesting has on our traditional territory.

We value the land so much as it is our “life” as a people of the land. We must trap and gather medicines on peatland. The animals we can hunt and trap elsewhere, but the medicines we gather here come from the peatland and are not found anywhere else on the landscape.

The “peat rush” is driven by the demand for peat in commercial greenhouses, and its use by backyard gardeners. Even though gardening helps provide a healthier way of life, using peat is doing more damage to the environment than people may know. Before you go out and buy peat moss this year, please try to understand where the peat comes from and the effects of harvesting.

Sincerely,
Mike Sutherland
Peguis First Nation
 

We will have more information about the new peat proposal on our website soon, and we’ll provide an avenue for people to make their views known during the current public comment period. Please share the above letter with the gardener in your life.

- Eric

Mike Sutherland speaking at the 2012 World Wetlands Day Rally at the Manitoba Legislature