Ring of Fire warning issued

Matawa CEO Paul Achneepineskum, left, and Ring of Fire co-ordinator Raymond Ferris met reporters Tuesday in Thunder Bay. (Brent Linton)

Matawa First Nations’ new Ring of Fire co-ordinator says the provincial government is handling development in the northern chromite deposit “very badly.”
Raymond Ferris of Constance Lake First Nation began his new job with Matawa on Monday, and said the government and mining companies alike need to do a better job consulting with First Nations as development in the Ring of Fire — a potentially-massive chromite deposit in the James Bay Lowlands — proceeds.
Ferris will be responsible for co-ordinating the relationship between government, the mining industry and First Nations as it pertains to developments in the Ring of Fire.
“So far the First Nations have been acting in good faith, and the governments and industry have been taking advantage of our generosity,” Ferris said during his introduction Tuesday at the Matawa offices in Thunder Bay.
“As the ring of fire co-ordinator and with support of the leadership and their respective First Nations, I can truthfully state that no longer will foreign corporations pillage our lands, wildlife, waters and desecrate our way of life without the inclusion and maximum benefits for our people,” Ferris said.
He said his first task will be to form a working group from the three Matawa member communities in the Ring of Fire in order to start a development strategy.
The creation of the Matawa Ring of Fire co-ordinator position was necessary because Matawa was getting fragmented as it attempted to deal with the matter, CEO David Paul Achneepineskum said.
“It . . . created some confusion with the public, and also our membership, as to who, exactly, was taking the lead,” he said. “The communities, without that leadership, they were going ahead and . . . creating their own strategies without formally working with the other communities.
“I believe that the industry kind of took advantage of that situation,” he said.
Ferris said he’ll be meeting with Christine Kaszycki, the Ontario government Ring of Fire co-ordinator.
Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle said he’s looking forward to working with Ferris.
“I know Raymond very well; I consider him a friend,” Gravelle said. “I think we share the same goals — to see the greatest possible benefit to the First Nation communities impacted by this potentially very exciting economic development.
“It’s important that we all work closely together.”
Ferris is former chief of Constance Lake First Nation, and also a former deputy grand chief for Nishnawbe Aski Nation, where he held the lands and resources portfolio.
Matawa is a tribal council representing nine First Nations in north-central Ontario.