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Petition urges QIA to stop iron ore dust from spreading at Mary River mine

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The Nuluujaat Guardians want the QIA to stop iron ore from being kept in open piles and transported in open trucks to prevent dust from spreading. photo courtesy of Baffinland Iron Mines

The Nuluujaat Guardians, the hunters behind the week-long protest at the Mary River iron mine earlier this month, are circulating a petition that calls upon the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) to prevent "nuisance" iron ore dust from spreading near the mine site.

The petition recognizes the Inuit of Nunavut as the owners of the land where the mine exists and the QIA as the landlord who leases the site to Baffinland Iron Mines.

"The activities of the Baffinland have caused the destructive spread of iron dust on the lands and waters and interfered with Inuit hunting rights all over the surrounding lands and ocean," the petition reads.

Specifically, the Nuluujaat Guardians demand that the QIA stop the transport of iron ore in open trucks, the storage of the ore in open piles and the open transfer of ore to ships.

"Baffinland should not be allowed to increase its annual haul and needs to stop any pre-development on the site," the petition states. "If the mine cannot be safe and clean, then let the ore stay in the ground until a company comes with a plan that is clean and safe for Inuit lands and community."