According to Diindiisi, the Iron Range Delegation will be meeting at Hibbing on December 19th. Among those attending will be Rep. David Dill, Rep. Tom Anzelc, Sen. David Tomassoni, Sen. Tom Bakk, Sen. Tom Saxhaug, and Rep. Carly Melin.
My little blue niijii also said representatives from US Steel and United Steelworkers would be joining the others at Hibbing Community College at 2:00 pm.
"But, wait," Diindiisi said, "Tribal reps from White Earth, Leech, Lake, Red Lake, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, and Bois Forte will also be there."
"The tribes will be there?" I asked.
"Eya, niijii," Diindiisi replied. "I told you before that they've met with these wiindigoog behind closed doors. But you wouldn't listen to me."
"But why are they meeting?" I asked.
"They're going to talk about diversion, wetlands, tailings, and discharge," Diindiisi said.
"But why taconite mining?"
"Think about it. One in ten babies are being born with mercury. Miners have high rates of cancer. Asbestos swirls in the dust from the mines. Sulfates have affected our manoomin. MinnTac is putting out 450 mg/L to 850 mg/L sulfates, well over the state standard of 10 mg/L. And with their new permit, they have fourteen years to bring their sulfates down to the standard. Perhaps they are trying to figure out how to add a more humane face to their ecocide. Or maybe they are concerned about their profit margin with the downswing of the ore market."
"So who knows about this meeting?" I asked.
"At this late hour, only you and I," said Diindiisi.
"Mii'gwech, niijii," I said. I gave him some seeds and nuts for his long journey home.
Make what you will of it, my friends. But this is what the Diindiisi told me.