Been There, 33million shares to RCF do not represent 1/3 ownership as so with 15 million dollars owed. They would represent 13-14%, unless you mean in addition to what they already own. But still short of 1/3.
As to the situation:
What do these communities have to do with the Ring of Fire if it were not for road or railway access?
Aroland, Eabametoong (Fort Hope & ex. 173Km from Ring), Neskantaga and Nibinamik (140 Km. from Ring).
In my opinion nothing, they are too distant. They try to have a say because the few communities that may have a valid concern with the Ring are members of Matawa and the have nots are also members so want a foot in that door by those means.
I also do not blame them for wanting, but wanting is one thing, reasonable reality another. That is why I am against granting compensatory privileges to the Whole Matawa group.
NOTE that Webequie ( 75 Km from Ring) is being very silent about events and complaints concerning the Ring.
That is very telling to me.
They do not join the complainers because they know that they stand to benefit most. BUT they do not want to ruffle the feathers of the other Matawa members by telling them to mind their business and that the Ring is not it.
Also note that having mines in the Ring does not impede the 'traditional' life of Webequie to any significant degree.
The land surface that will be taken is a tiny portion of one precent of all land available to them. So arguments about diminished hunting, trapping or destroyed forests are mostly bogus.
The situation will start to resolve when a road is built into the Ring. Those near the road will benefit right away so that will partly deflate their baloon of desire. Those not directly benefiting from that road will complain but it will be pointless and in time silence them. Yes the complainers may eventually get road branches that will connect them but the funds for those roads will have to come from taxes on already established mining operations. So they should not impede mining but encourage so that they will not have to wait too long for additional infrastructures to reach them.
