The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal is the daily newspaper of Northwestern Ontario.
The provincial government has to take a bigger leadership role in consultations between First Nations and mining companies in the Ring of Fire, says one of the companies developing a mine in the area.
“I think the root of the problem, is that the First Nations are seeking a greater amount of consultation. Our hope is that the government would lead those discussions,” Noront Resources president and CEO Wes Hanson said Wednesday.
Six First Nation leaders have threatened to issue eviction notices to all mining companies working in the Ring of Fire mining belt.
Upset over a lack of consultation, the leaders of Aroland, Constance Lake, Ginoogaming, Longlake #58, Neskantaga, and Nibinamik say they are in the final stages of issuing a 30-day eviction notice to all mining companies with exploration and development camps in the region, and implementing an immediate moratorium on all Ring of Fire mining activity.
“We are sending a strong message to Ontario and Canada that we need to negotiate a process for First Nation participation in the mining projects that will be changing our lives forever,” said Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias.
“Unless, and until we have a table for government-to-government negotiations, we will evict the intruders from our lands,” he said.
Hanson said that during the latest talks with most of the six First Nation leaders, “this issue of eviction wasn’t brought to the forefront.
“All these communities want to see economic development. They want to be included in all discussions, and many have valid concerns,” he said.
While some are further away from the project area than others, Hanson said, “the reach of the Ring of Fire is going to stretch from coast to coast.
“Certainly these communities will be impacted. Hopefully their residents will be able to upgrade their skills and be available for us to hire in the future.”
Meanwhile, Hanson said most community consultations he’s aware of have been led by Noront, rather than the government.“We’ve done it ourselves . . . it just seemed the most efficient way to move forward.
“We’ve heard a lot of comments about ‘closed door arrangements’ and communities being excluded. That’s why I think these communities would threaten an action to ban companies from their traditional territories . . . they want to be a part of the discussions,” Hanson added.
One of two major players in the Ring of Fire, Noront is developing its high-grade Eagle’s Nest nickel-copper-platinum-palladium deposit, as well as carrying out exploration and development of its Blackbird chromite discovery in the James Bay Lowlands.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci said Wednesday that “we continue to take our duty to consult very seriously.
“Our staff have been working for days to set up meetings with Aroland and Neskantaga, and those efforts will continue,” Laura Blondeau said.
“Our government wants to ensure First Nations communities benefit from the many opportunities that would be presented through Ring of Fire development.
“Early this month, our minister signed a memorandum of co-operation with Webequie First Nation in the Ring of Fire area so that we can work with them to ensure optimal opportunity for that community.
“While there are challenges to be sure, we will continue to work to communicate in good faith with First Nations communities in the Ring of Fire area,” Blondeau added.
The chiefs of the six First Nations say they have been calling for government-to-government talks for more than two years but they continue to be ignored while upper levels of government proceed full speed ahead with developing a road, infrastructure, refinery and mines.
The chiefs say their communities are not opposed to development. But they maintain that the development must be sustainable, responsible and undergo an appropriate environmental assessment which includes meaningful First Nation participation, consultation, accommodation and consent.
They are also concerned about the way Ring of Fire projects are proceeding.
They suggest the projects will damage land and river systems, change their way of life forever and deliver no real benefits to their communities, which are mired in inadequate housing, substandard education, poor access to health care, a prescription drug crisis and chronic unemployment.