LCO tribe members plan winter camping at mine site

UPSON, Wis. — Lac Courte Oreille Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe members plan to occupy five acres of forested land near the proposed Gogebic-Taconite mine through the winter.

The LCO has made the decision to continue the camp, called the LCO Harvest Educational Learning Project, despite no agreement having been reached with Iron County, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.

Tribal member Paul DeMain said camp members are winterizing by double-walling and insulating wigwams.

DeMain said it's important to stay there because he believes G-Tac might conduct rock-sampling this winter and a geoscientist found asbestos-like fibers there.

Tribal members were at the camp site all summer, although county forestry rules only allow two weeks of camping there.

LCO (Hayward area) Tribal Chairman Mic Isham said the tribal members are researching maple syrup harvesting and plants and resources. He said it's a research project and not a camping expedition.

Isham said he hopes to come to an agreement with Iron County.