The Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation gave its consent to host a deep geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel in the township Ignace, the nation of indigenous people announced last week.
The potential repository, one of two under consideration by Canada’s Nuclear Waste Management Organization, would be in the township of Ignace in the Canadian province of Ontario. The township is part of the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation’s “ traditional territory,” the nation wrote in a press release announcing its decision to consent to a repository.
The nation gave its consent after a vote held among its people, the tally of which was not disclosed in the Nov. 18 press release.
Ignace is roughly 280 miles East by road from Winnipeg, in the neighboring province of Manitoba, some 440 miles north by road from Duluth, Minn., and about 135 miles miles as the blue jay flies from the northern shores of Lake Superior.
The Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation’s vote makes Ignace the first of two potential Canadian repository sites where both the local Canadian government and indigenous people have consented to be a host community. The Township of Ignace gave its consent over the summer.
The other potential Canadian host community is South Bruce, Ontario. The South Bruce government formalized its consent in October. The Saugeen Ojibway Nation of indigenous people must also consent to hosting a repository in South Bruce, which is about 100 miles from Toronto, near Lake Huron.
