August 31, 2011 the news came that

http://www.wawataynews.ca/archive/all/2011/9/15/four-matawa-communities-plan-ring-fire-corridor_21853

Four Matawa communities plan Ring of Fire corridor

Thursday September 15, 2011

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Four Matawa First Nations are looking for jobs, education and other benefits from the development of an infrastructure, transportation and service corridor to the Ring of Fire.

“It’s going to create a lot of employment, a lot of opportunity, a lot of business interests,” said Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias. “It will also bring in connections to the urban centres. That is the intention of this agreement: to try to have access roads to the First Nations.”

Neskantaga, Webequie, Eabametoong and Nibinamik signed the collaborative agreement Aug. 31 to develop, own and operate a 230-240 kilometre east-west corridor from the Pickle Lake area to the Ring of Fire mineral exploration area in the James Bay lowlands with connections to the communities.

About 35 mining companies are exploring the area, which spans about 4,000 square kilometres, for chromite, nickel, copper, platinum, zinc, gold and diamonds. The Ring of Fire could become one of the world’s largest discoveries of chromite and the only one located in North America.

“This is an important step that will ensure our communities are actively involved in the planning, development and operation of this preferred corridor with the other three communities, and that all of the impacted communities benefit socially and economically from this development,” Moonias said.

Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle said the agreement was “good news” and a “positive development.”

But he said there is still a need for a north-south corridor to the Ring of Fire for transportation or industrial use as well.

“There is still significant work that needs to be done,” Gravelle said. “What is most exciting from my perspective is that I think all the communities are expressing their very clear support for economic development opportunities. They want absolute assurance they will have real benefits for their communities and that is absolutely correct.”

Moonias said the corridor would lower the cost of living in the four fly-in communities due to lower transportation costs. The communities now rely on air transportation for most of the year and winter roads during the coldest part of the winter.

“Once we have this east-west corridor, we will be able to transport everything by road,” said Webequie Chief Cornelius Wabasse. “They (community members) will be able to travel.”

Nibinamik Chief Roger Oskineegish is also looking forward to the development of a power transmission line along the corridor.

“We need transmission lines,” Oskineegish said. “We’ll also be able to do that fibre-optic line. There are a lot of opportunities out there and I feel we should grab them while we can.”

The communities began working on the community-driven strategy for the corridor in March 2010.

“I see this collaborative agreement as history in the making among the four First Nations who are now taking control of our traditional homelands and are becoming a force to be reckoned with,” Wabasse said.

The communities chose their preferred corridor route to mitigate environmental impacts and to ensure community members realize the maximum possible benefits. The route follows a higher elevation route than the one announced by Noront Resources Ltd. in March 2011 along the winter road network to Pickle Lake.

“This preferred route allows our First Nations to pursue vital development opportunities while minimizing the corridor’s impact on species at risk and overall environmental footprint,” said Eabametoong Chief Harry Papah.

Papah said the corridor would also bring benefits to youth in the future.

“We need to plan for them to make sure everything is in place for them,” Papah said. “We know (with) the road there will be pros and cons, but hopefully everybody will use the pros for the road.”

The communities have established a working group with representatives from each community.

The group’s first task is to consult with community members throughout September.