Terms set for Ring of Fire impact assessment

A working group of 15 First Nations and the Federal government have now agreed on the terms of a regional assessment of the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario.

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada announced the terms Monday. They set out how the regional assessment will be conducted and details about the information it will seek to collect. The goal is to assess the potential positive and negative impacts of development. 

Why can't I have clean drinking water and basic needs like that, while our resources are being extracted out of our territories?- Chris Moonias, Chief of Neskantaga First Nation

Northern Ontario's Ring of Fire is a crescent-shaped mineral deposit that has been eyed as a critical source for Ontario's burgeoning electric vehicle battery industry. Potential development has faced pushback from some First Nations, who have previously said they haven't been properly consulted and see it as a potential threat to their traditional ways of life.

The 15 First Nations include the nine Ojibway and Cree communities within the Matawa tribal council, seven Cree nations represented by Mushkegowuk council, and Weenusk First Nation. 

Vice-president of Indigenous relations at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, Ian Ketcheson, described the terms as a positive step forward.                      

"This is a big milestone in the sense that we've been able to chart a path together through consensus-based decision making to agree on the things that need to be understood," said Ketcheson.

Ketcheson said the relationship-building that has occurred between the Federal government and the 15 First Nations has set a good foundation.

"We've agreed on a set of principles that ground our work around things like putting Indigenous values, interests and priorities at the forefront of this process, and making sure that we've got opportunities for every First Nation to work closely with their own communities to understand what matters for them and to work through their own governance processes," said Ketcheson.

Ketcheson said the group plans to deliver a report to the chiefs and to the minister that will outline the studies conducted, any findings and their recommendations within 30 months.

Chief of Neskantaga First Nation Chris Moonias said agreeing to the terms of reference doesn't mean the community has agreed to development. 

While getting a full understanding of how any development may impact their territory is important, Chief Moonias says it is hard to negotiate agreements like these when the community is struggling with multiple crises.

As of next month, Neskantaga First Nation will have spent 30 years under a boil water advisory — longer than any other First Nation. It has no hospital or high school. Moonias also said the First Nation is facing a severe housing shortage and drug crisis. 

"Why can't I have clean drinking water and basic needs like that, while our resources are being extracted out of our territories?"

Some of the questions Neskantaga needs answered include what the impacts to the land and wildlife could be, and whether community members would see increased job opportunities as part of potential developments, Moonish said.  

"I just want to make sure that my community, my nation is protected and that they make informed decisions."