On wet, squishy grass unlikely to survive the frenetic feet of hundreds of school kids, are pitched the tents of the BC Mining Week Community Fair.  In front of the Vancouver Art Gallery.  When I visited yesterday, there were kids everywhere: grabbing plastic bags and filling them with rocks, pebbles, mineral specimens, crayons, coloring books, and propaganda extolling the virtues of mining.  I succumbed and grabbed three posters from Mining Works for Canada.  And stickers of Komatsu trucks–I will take those to Iowa and the grandkids. 

This was indeed kids’ heaven:  a free day off school: free stuff; dirt and puddles; treasure hunts; gold panning; and attentive adults eager to promote mining.  If the intent was to induce kids to like mining, surely this must succeed.  As the Church says: give them to me until they are seven and they will be Catholic for life. 

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At $1.64 billion per person, this is surely the biggest claim ever in Canada.   When I returned to Canada a few years back, I was assured that Canada is not litigious like the US.  Seems those who told me that are wrong.  I repeat, this claim is for $1.64 billion per person. 

The announcement of the claim is so routine and bland you almost pass it by:

The Gimaa (chief) and council of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek wish to announce that they have commenced litigation against Canada and Ontario for the failure of the Crown to provide the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek with a reservation consistent with the terms of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.

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