A group of chiefs representing First Nation communities with land near the Ring of Fire have withdrawn their support from the development.
The withdrawal of support was originally announced Thursday, but chiefs from Matawa First Nations held a news conference Friday to provide details about that decision.
The chiefs said they can’t support the project unless the federal government agrees to a joint review panel environmental assessment that would allow First Nations communities in the area to have a voice in the assessment.
“Our way of life our lands, animals will be impacted,” said Webequie First Nation chief Cornelius Wabasse.
“We just want a proper consultation…and also to work with government side-by-side on how we’re going to alleviate some of these issues that will arise from the development in our area.”
In meetings with government officials Thursday, members of Matawa walked out after learning that the government would instead be using a comprehensive assessment to study two projects in the Ring of Fire.
“It’s just a basic review where as a joint panel we could get fully involved and the detailed processes are done,” Wabasse said.
Matawa has given the government seven days to respond to its request, originally issued last spring, to have a joint panel review instead.
Wabasse said if the request is denied, Matawa will have to use alternative means of action. Although the chiefs and communities are still working out what those alternatives measures are.
Marten Falls chief Eli Moonias said one alternative could be a legal battle.
First Nations communities on the Athabasca River have launched legal battles against the oil projects in Alberta. If those communities win their challenges, it could set a precedent for Matawa communities, Moonias said.
“I think this EA process is not going anywhere at the moment because we haven’t decided which suitable process to use together (with government).”
Moonias added that he’s concerned about chemicals leaking into the soil and rivers in the area if mines are built.
“I don’t know what the chemical that will be there in the tailing pond of a chromite mine,” he said. “We need to do a study on that.”
