Blockade begins

Saying they just want their fair share of the benefits from the Ring of Fire, residents of Marten Falls have once again set up a blockade at the Koper Lake landing strip.
 
About two dozen people gathered Thursday at a temporary wind-swept lakeside camp for the start of the peaceful protest, which won’t actually stop any planes from landing.

Marten Falls Chief Elia Moonias said he has asked mining companies working in the area to respect the blockade and refrain from bringing mining-related supplies into the area until the two sides and the Ontario government can come together.

Food and other day-to-day basics for mining company employees – which on Thursday numbered just two – living in a temporary camp set up on the other side of the lake, are permitted.

Marten Falls Coun. Linda Moonias said there’s a definite feeling in her community that the consultative process is being ignored.

The blockade is simply a way to jump-start talks, between themselves, the government and mining companies like Cleveland-based Cliffs Natural Resources, Noront Resources Inc. and KWG Resources, she said.

“There are no agreements in place and I know from last year we had a lot of items that we had listed to be addressed within a timeframe. So far there’s been little movement on the part of the government. I feel that when there is a threat of a blockade, I feel things start moving,” Linda Moonias said.

The community of 600 or so is looking for solutions to about 10 issues they believe stand in the way of a mutual agreement that would see Marten Falls leaders give thumbs up to the development, expected to be worth billions over the next few decades.

On Jan. 25 Marten Falls leaders issued a cease and desist order to Noront, demanding construction of the camp be put to a halt, but unlike a year ago, the company ignored the request.

Including the 40-person mining camp itself, which Aboriginal leaders say poses a potential environmental hazard, Marten Falls leaders are looking for winter and all-weather road access talks to begin, a say in where a potential transportation corridor might go, respect for treaty rights, wildlife concerns addressed and reimbursement of the $90,000 it cost to set up 2010’s blockade any expenses incurred this year.

Moonias, who plans to leave the bustling protest camp on Friday, said a handful of people will be left behind to monitor the air strip and ensure the conditions are being respected. If not, then further action will be taken, he promised.

“Then we will get the message that what we’re seeing here is going to be (business) as usual and they’re not really serious in talking to us, talking to our negotiator,” Moonias said. “If that happens, things will be difficult to move the project because for one thing we won’t complete the land-use plan.”

The embattled chief said without the land-use plan, a requirement of the Mining Act, the project cannot proceed.

“You can’t develop anything here without it. And they can’t approve the land-use plan without us,” he said.

Moonias said they’re taking a peaceful approach to show their willingness to allow development on the land – it just has to be on terms agreeable to them.

“I don’t think we can put trees on the runway, because I think that’s so dangerous. But if … the message is they won’t talk to us then they’re going to jeopardize the project because nothing will move if that happens,” he said also threatening legal action.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy, who made the trek to the camp, located some 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, said he fully supports the “peaceful protest.”

Both Beardy and Eli Moonias said 100 years ago First Nations signed treaty agreements with the government giving them the right to benefit from the land.

That’s all residents of Marten Falls and nearby Webequie First Nation want at the present time, they said. 

“They’re asking for all the players, the government, industry and the private sector just to come together and address the issues they have concerns with. What they’re saying is they’re not against resource development, but they want to make sure in the long term they benefit from it,” Beardy said.

Eil Moonias said he is well aware that the blockade will have an impact on others, including some of his own community members, but feels it’s the only way to get an invite to the negotiation table.

That’s what he’s told his people working on the project.

“We know that. We asked them to look into the long-term. Not just themselves, but their children too, to make sure that they’re not just labourers, that they get into the operations of the mines themselves and be in higher positions, not just as snow shovelers and handlers of waste,” said Moonias. “That is our goal here.”

The blockade will continue indefinitely.