WAHNAPITAE FIRST NATION — This week, over 35 delegates from the Matawa and Mushkegowuk Nations will gather in Wahnapitae First Nation. The delegates are participating in a workshop organized by the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and Four Rivers, Matawa’s environment office.
The environmental training builds on the Chiefs of Ontario’s 2013 Environmental Assessment toolkit which offers high-level technical staff the opportunity to work with leading industry professionals and enable community experts to learn more about mining and environmental assessment processes. Participants will visit several mining sites in the area, attend workshops focused on negotiating skills and learn more about the job opportunities, training, and environmental considerations central to development in the Ring of Fire region.
“This training is a direct response to the questions and concerns we heard from participants at the last Chiefs of Ontario training session in Constance Lake First Nation,” commented Regional Chief Stan Beardy. “The last training session was a starting point where we learned that people wanted to see on the ground what these mines look like and also to further build their understanding of the implications, both positive and negative, of mining development in their territories.”
Through the land excursions, in-depth group discussions and technical presentations, training participants will build on what they have learned in the first round of training to further enhance their ability to respond to companies seeking to develop minerals on their land.