Home to over 60% of the world’s mining companies, Canada features prominently in the global mining industry. But people the world over are increasingly voicing complaints, describing the industry as “Canada’s number one contribution to global injustice.” Complaints include the displacement of indigenous communities, families being torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, ecosystems ruined, and the erosion of ancient indigenous cultures.
Someone Else’s Treasure is an ongoing multimedia project which brings to light some of the experiences of people around the world whose lives have been impacted by the global mining industry – including communities in the Philippines, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Chile, Canada, and now Guatemala.
The mining companies’ perspectives are easily accessible. The views of NGOs, human rights organizations and environmentalists are easily accessible. The perspectives of economists and academics are easily accessible. The views of the politicians, geologists and engineers are also easily accessible. But the perspectives of the people who actually live next to these mines are not.
For this reason, the focus of Someone Else’s Treasure is on the people, the local communities, not the companies. Someone Else’s Treasure is not about a handful of companies that are breaking the law, because in fact there are no international laws to hold them accountable for what you’re about to see.
Someone Else’s Treasure is about one question: what is it that we treasure above all else, our families, communities, livelihoods, culture, health, or is it profit, money, or gold?
