I am from southern Ontarion and welcome any comments regarding northern Ontario particularly if it pertains to the Ring and to a lesser degree any neighbouring
communities. My know how of the region is minimal at best so anyone who has direct experience with the region, or opinions of the locals, is welcome by me.

Reading about such opinions gives me a perspective on the local people who in one way or another will influence most if not all of the companies involved with the Ring.

Most of us have experienced the blockade by the natives and it's influence on our share price. Yes it's influence, because in the opinion of this poster Noront's sp would likely be in the dollar and a half range ( mostly due to world economy ) if it were not for the blockade. Knowing how the locals feel and how are likely to react has a direct bearing on my shares, hence my interest.

Yes this is a Noront forum and when there is more important and directly relevant issues to be discussed pertaining to Noront they should take precedence BUT other companies of the Ring and the population of the region have some relevance and in times of lack of direct discussion regarding Noront, they also should be not only accepted but welcome ( at least I do).

Some of the posters here are over reacting imho to the indiginous population partly I believe due to the past blockade. I have also stated before that I do not call the native peoples "Indian" nor "Aboriginal" because these words are labels that are inappropriate. Such labels only inflame reactions by some people. They are true natives and the rest of us, even if born in Canada over generations, are immigrants. The treaties, and the reserve system in my opinion are from centuries past and they should be abolished due to irrelevance in the 21st century. The natives should be considered as any other Canadians and no special status nor recognized as 'nations' because they are not nations but tribes of a single native population. If some of the natives want to live in the past then it is their choice but they should bear the full burden of that choice and not off load resulting problems of that choice on the rest of the citizens.

The companies involved in the Ring are about to offer the natives badly needed infrastructure, jobs and a less expensive way of life. It is incomprehensible to me why any of them should choose to remain in the old life style. Only excuse that I can surmize is that some are looking for better terms of inclusion in Canadian society.
However, as an example, I do not agree with the stance taken by Aroland with respect to the smelter. They are not owed the smelter by Cliffs or by any other company planning similar development. They will get some jobs and should be thankfull for them instead of making waves.

I am also very pleased with Noront's efforts with regard to the local population and environmental concerns.

I state these opinions with the hope that we have discussed this topic enough for now and get back to the smelter, infrastructure, their influence on progress and timing for us Noront shareholders.

Include rather than exclude, Ed.