Webequie First Nation, a remote community near the Ring of Fire mineral exploration camp, wants industry and the province to negotiate with them first, above their own tribal council.

In a Nov. 23 press release, the 700-member community stated the Matawa Tribal Council does not represent Webequie in any negotiaton over the protection of historical and culturally significant sites on its traditional lands.

To back up their claims, Webequie released its own position paper and consultation protocol.

The Matawa Tribal Council represents nine communities, including Webequie, in the area of the Ring of Fire, a major mineral exploration project in Ontario's Far North. Webequie is 70 kilometres west of the Ring of Fire and 540 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.

The move was made in response to an earlier announcement by neighbouring chief who withdrew their support for exploration and mine development in the Ring of Fire because they feel an federal environmental assessment process is inadequate.

In a statement, Webequie Chief Cornelius Wabasse said his own First Nation are the “primary contact and exclusive decision-makers” for the community, “not any third party or external organization.”

Over the past three years, the community said it has built “tremendous” capacity, to become investment-ready to take full advantage of the socio-economic benefits in the Ring of Fire.