Shawn Bell - Wawatay News

Four Matawa First Nations are examining building and operating their own Ring of Fire transportation corridor between Pickle Lake and Webequie Junction.

Eabametoong, Neskantaga, Nibinamik and Webequie First Nations have signed an agreement to work together on building an East-West corridor for the Ring of Fire.

The signing, a highlight of the Prospectors and Developers mining conference in Toronto from Mar. 4-7, marks a shift away from letting industry plan its own transportation network between potential mines and processing plants further south.

“By taking control of our traditional homeland, we can ensure that our communities really benefit in meaningful and long-term ways from the potential development in the Ring of Fire,” said Eabametoong Chief Harry Papah.

It comes as the debate over which way to move ore from the Ring of Fire to market continues.

Cliffs’ Natural Resources endorses a North-South transportation route, whereby a road would run from just south of the Ring of Fire to connect with highway 11 near Nakina.

Noront Resources, on the other hand, has promoted an East-South route that would connect Webequie Junction to Pickle Lake, similar to the route endorsed by the Matawa chiefs.

Noront’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Semple said the signing endorses the review that his company has already conducted.

“We put our route together based on a technical, and socio-economic review, the route we think will be most palatable to get government financing,” Semple said. “What we see are four communities interested in development. That’s a positive for the industry and a positive for our company.”

Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias said it is very important for companies to work with First Nations and respect the needs that communities have. The potential benefits of a First Nations-owned and operated transportation corridor to service the Ring of Fire would help the communities meet their needs, Moonias said.

“As a group of First Nations, we can stand strong and direct companies that enter into our traditional lands to work in partnership with us with the expectation that each community’s protocols will be respected and that every person’s voice will be heard,” Moonias said.

Details of what a First Nations-owned and operated corridor would look like are still being worked out. The next step is to complete a study to see how a corridor can be economically feasible.

In a press release, the four First Nations said that the ultimate goal is to “establish a joint venture that will operate an infrastructure, transportation and service corridor for potential mining companies in the Ring of Fire.”

Cliffs’ manager of Aboriginal Relations Joe Gaboury said the company is continuing to work with all four First Nations.

He said that despite the announcement Cliffs remains committed to the North-South transportation route.

“Our preferred route is the shortest,” Gaboury said. “We’re going to be hauling a lot of ore.”

Webequie First Nation has repeatedly emphasized its autonomy when it comes to dealing with mining companies in the region. Webequie Chief Cornelius Wabasse said the transportation corridor agreement reaffirms First Nations autonomy on decision-making processes in the Ring of Fire.

“Our message here today is clear and aims to promote understanding of how to work with our northern Ontario First Nations,” Wabasse said.

During the Prospectors and Developers conference Webequie also signed a letter of understanding to work with Cliffs on a Memorandum of Understanding.

Both Cliffs and Noront have projects undergoing environmental assessment