This article came from Wawatay News: http://www.wawataynews.ca/
For Neskantaga First Nation Chief Peter Moonias, the massive Prospectors and Developers Association mining conference was more than just a chance to promote the agreement his First Nation signed with three of its neighbours on building a transportation network to the Ring of Fire.
It was also a chance to bring a First Nation message of treaty rights in regards to land to companies and governments alike.
“The companies have to respect the communities, and understand the rights of treaties for First Nations people. They then have to sell that agreement to the government,” Moonias said. “It’s important to carry the message to companies and government that Native people have that right to the land, through treaties.”
Moonias, along with chiefs from Eabametoong, Nibinamik and Webequie made a splash at the conference on Mar. 5 when they signed an agreement to pursue the development of an East-West transportation corridor to the Ring of Fire.
Webequie chief Cornelius Wabasse made his own impact the next day, signing a letter of intent to work with Cliffs Natural Resources towards a Memorandum of Understanding on the Ring of Fire.
But the Matawa First Nations were not the only Aboriginal people having an impact. There were entire sections of the four-day agenda dedicated to First Nations consultation, engagement and partnerships, and entire communities at the conference mingling with companies from across the world.
Prospectors and Developers Association President Glenn Nolan said the conference’s focus on Aboriginal issues is something he has watched grow over the past decade. From the handful of native people he saw ten years ago, to having rooms full of interested parties for all-day sessions on Aboriginal rights and consultation, Nolan said First Nations issues on mining in Canada is on everyone’s mind.
“The interest in the issues are growing not only from the industry side to understand about Aboriginal issues, but the number of Aboriginal people attending our conference has grown and that is fueling it,” Nolan said. “It’s an exciting time, and it demonstrates the keen interest.”
The conference itself was massive, with nearly 30,000 delegates from mining companies and governments around the world.
Noront and Cliffs both received a lot of attention on their efforts to start mining in northern Ontario’s Ring of Ontario, with constant traffic at their displays on the industry floor.
Both companies have environmental assessments underway, with plans to start production over the next few years.
But the focus on mining in northern Ontario was not limited to the Ring of Fire. From gold mining and exploration around Red Lake to the prospect of uranium mining near Lake Nipigon, the buzz around companies operating in northern Ontario was some of the loudest at the event.
Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs was also on hand, trying to drum up support for his vision of having Thunder Bay be a mining hub for northern Ontario mining.
Hobbs has said he wants to see mining-related activity in Thunder Bay, from processors to supply companies, grow exponentially over the coming decade.
Ed Collins, Fort William First Nation’s economic development officer, supports Thunder Bay’s mining vision and the spin-off benefits it could bring for his First Nation.
Collins was also at the event, promoting Thunder Bay’s efforts.
He said some First Nation businesses have already started working in mining related industries, and other opportunities are available.
“It really helps our young people stay in school,” Collins said. “They’re looking at jobs when they graduate that pay them $70,000 or more per year, so its really got them excited about school.”