Consultation needed before any development in Ring of Fire: Grand Chief

First Nations want to be involved not, not after the factILLIS, LEN /SUNMEDIA

Mining companies and politicians shouldn’t get too far ahead of themselves discussing development within the Ring of Fire, says the grand chief of a regional First Nations council.

While there has been much talk about its mineral riches, Indigenous communities within that area want more consultation before development begins, says Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Jonathan Solomon.

“We have talked about it in our council, the Mushkegowuk Council with the First Nations communities,” said Solomon. “The legal advice we got from our lawyers is, ‘You have a position now to demand a full involvement in the environment assessment (EA) processes.’”

The council represents seven communities along the James Bay lowlands of Northern Ontario. They are Attawapiskat First Nation, Chapleau Cree, Fort Albany First Nation, Kashechewan First Nation, Missanabie Cree, Moose Cree First Nation and Taykwa Tagamou Fist Nation.

The Ring of Fire, a massive, ore-rich area within the lowlands is touted as potentially the biggest economic boon to this province in 100 years.

It’s rich in palladium, platinum, nickel, diamonds and gold. Most importantly, it has the largest chromite deposit in North America — valued at an estimated $60 billion in economic development.

The Ring of Fire is expected to benefit First Nations municipalities however Solomon said his municipalities want to be more involved in the development process.

Solomon cited the Trans Canada pipeline as an example where communities in the downstream of the area’s development were not included in the environmental assessment processes.

“They have to be very mindful that the court case that was released in British Columbia. The federal appeal said that the proponents failed their duty to consult. Just like the courts said, you just can’t send information to the First Nations. That’s not consulting, that’s not accommodating. The court is very clear on that,” said Solomon.

“We need to get serious as First Nations for whenever and whatever we want to do. We have to sit down with them and have a good conversation with them and listen to them. They must be willing to change the EA concerns.

“We need to change our process. We need to as a First Nations be part of the process. Not at the tail end of everything once you’ve done everything you want to do. They must be involved from the beginning and that’s what the federal bureau said. They have to be involved from the beginning, not after the fact