December 18, 2003

For more information:

Jessica Jim, Chairperson, Pit River Nation - Ph: 530-335-5421
Mark LeBeau, Vice Chair, Native Coalition for Medicine Lake Highlands Defense - Ph: 916-929-9761
Chris Peters, Pres. & CEO, Seventh Generation Fund - Ph: 707-825-7640

“We believe that the Calpine Corporation has not taken adequate steps to resolve our concerns over its cultural impact in the Medicine Lake Highlands” stated William M. Tartikof, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Calvert Asset Management Company, Inc., a long-standing shareholder in the San Jose based energy company, Calpine Corporation.

Earlier this month, Calvert filed a shareholder resolution demanding that the Calpine Corporation, “cease and desist development in the Medicine Lake Highlands.” In the same resolution, Calvert further insisted that the Calpine Corporation “develop, implement, and make public a formal written policy on the rights of indigenous peoples by September 01, 2004.”  

Seventh Generation Fund, a twenty-seven year old Indigenous peoples’ advocacy organization located in Arcata, California, applauds Calvert in taking this action to halt the desecration of Medicine Lake, a pristine sacred site. Medicine Lake is only one of countless sacred places under imminent threat of assault by mining companies and other extractive industries.

In its resolution, Calvert indicates that the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Calpine’s Geothermal Development Project states that, “both the Telephone Flat and Fourmile Hill Geothermal Projects are expected to result in potentially significant, adverse impacts to traditional cultural values . . . as the two projects would diminish or alter the qualities that make the Medicine Lake Highlands a sacred site and a traditional cultural property, and reduce the suitability and usefulness of the area for traditional activities. This cumulative impact is considered potentially significant and mitigation is not feasible.” (Executive Summary of the Telephone Flat Geothermal Development Plan EIS/EIR, February 25, 1999)

The Pit River Nation has repeatedly voiced opposition to geothermal development on their ancestral lands and this concern is shared by many other tribes, as evidenced by numerous resolutions opposing geothermal development in the Medicine Lake Highlands. Jessica Jim, Chairperson of the Pit River Nation states that “the Pit River Nation has a long record for asserting its inherent right to protect our sacred sites and is a strong advocate opposing the geothermal mining in the Medicine Lake Highlands, the past and the present.” She further indicates that she and other tribal representatives are willing to meet with the Calpine Corporation regarding, “the agenda topic to cease and desist from all activities related to geothermal mining.”  

In a recent article Mark LeBeau, a member of the Pit River Nation and Vice Chairperson for the Native Coalition for Medicine Lake Highlands Defense said, “Clearly, Calpine will unearth more dangerous chemicals if their mining operation is allowed to continue. Should I entrust my life or thelives of my family to Calpine's crackerjack hazardous chemical control team during spiritual quests to the Highlands? I think not. Should I halt my spiritual practice and tradition of washing my face in and drinking of the healing waters in the Highlands because this company wishes to pursue mining energy in this part of my nation's ancestral homeland? Of course not! Would Calpine stakeholders appreciate being treated in this same regard? I think not.”

Chris Peters, President and CEO of the Indigenous rights organization, the Seventh Generation Fund says that, “Medicine Lake is indicative of a much larger problem perpetrated by the United States judicial system that excludes legal and constitutional protection for Native American holy places in the United States, and in essence this perpetuates religious intolerance of the First Americans of this land.”

Seventh Generation Fund joins with the Pit River Tribe and the Native Coalition for Medicine Lake Highlands Defense in expecting that Calpine Corporation will continue to fulfill its commitment to hold high-level consultation with the Pit River Nation and take meaningful steps to cease and desist its energy development activities in the Medicine Lake Highlands and surrounding areas. As the resolution states, Calpine should also draft plans and policies to immediately remove itself from the area. Calpine has no business damaging and no right to exploit Native American sacred places—ANYWHERE.

Calpine Corporation needs to uphold the inherent religious freedom rights of Indigenous peoples and also assure its shareholders of the Corporation's sincere commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainable values.