An aboriginal leader sentenced to time behind bars for defying two court orders and blocking a prospective uranium mining site has agreed to stop participating in protests so she can avoid going to jail.
Paula Sherman and Robert Lovelace, co-chiefs of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, were sentenced to six months in jail by Justice Douglas Cunningham in a
Both had admitted to their involvement in protests on the property, near
The Algonquin protesters have argued the site is on their land and they fear that uranium drilling could lead to environmental contamination.
The Ardoch leaders' sentences were met by an outcry from dozens of supporters who packed the courtroom throughout the hearings this week.
But shortly after the courtroom emptied,
The judge agreed, but said
Protesters from both the Shabot Obaadjiwan and Ardoch Algonquin First Nations occupied the disputed site from late June to mid-October last year despite court injunctions granted in response to requests from the company. The injunctions ordered the Algonquins off the site and gave police the authority to arrest them.
The occupation ended after the
Shabot Obaadjiwan Chief Doreen Davis and another senior official from her community told the court earlier during the sentencing hearings that they plan to honour the court orders. At the time, Ardoch leaders gave no indication that they planned to obey the injunctions.