Development in the Ring of Fire should stop until area First Nations communities are properly consulted, says Matawa’s new Ring of Fire co-ordinator.
Raymond Ferris, who officially started his new job Monday, said the province hasn’t even followed through with items from a Memorandum of Understanding that expired last September.
"It gives the province something to provide to the public that they are working with First Nations when in fact it’s the opposite," Ferris said.
Ferris said his new position will help ensure that First Nations are involved in the process. From the people in the communities to its chiefs, Ferris said his mandate will come from all Matawa First Nations members.
"We’ll build that mandate from the ground up," Ferris said. "And get directions forward from our people."
But Ferris said stopping work is a last resort for Matawa and he’d rather have discussions with companies and Ontario so that development happens correctly.
"It should be, if we’re going to be involved and do things in a manner where everybody shows good faith, he said.
Matawa David Paul Achneepineskum CEO said Ferris’ position is necessary so that First Nations communities involved in the Ring of Fire have a united front. He added that until now decisions were made by individual communities in a fragmented way, which some mining companies have used to their advantage to create a "divide and conquer" strategy.
The idea for a co-ordinator came from the people of Matawa First Nations Achneepineskum said.
"They saw where the industry was dividing them and their needs," he said.
So far most of the plans from industry and government have been learned through media reports, Achneepineskum said. Unless industry and government officials go the communities and take First Nations people seriously, there’s a chance development could stop, he added.
"Without that consultation taking place our people are not going to consent to any development that’s going to happen in their territory that’s the bottom line," he said.
"Right now our people are saying ‘no’ because they don’t know what’s happening."
Ferris said the first step toward meaningful consultation is for Ontario to provide process funding so Matawa can hire experts to review industry plans and information on the Ring of Fire. He said environmental concerns also need to be addressed.
"We’ve got pictures of camps right by the water and fuel barrels right by the shores," Ferris said.
Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Michael Gravelle said while he knows there are concerns from Matawa, he is looking forward to discussions with Ferris and considers him a friend.
"This is a delicate process and one where we recognize that there needs to be respect and there needs to be trust certainly that’s the basis on which I’ve always operated," Gravelle said. "And will continue to do so."
