Unity required

There has to be unity amongst the First Nations in order to move forward on Ring of Fire development, said Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy.

“That’s why you have 49 chiefs sitting around the table,” Beardy said Tuesday morning, the opening day of a three-day Special Chiefs Assembly at the Victoria Inn.

“We need to remind ourselves we have a relationship, that we agreed to a set of principles 100 years ago,” he said.

The theme for the assembly is Asserting Our Jurisdiction and will cover a range of topics from prescription drug abuse and housing and economic development to lands and resources and mining.

Beardy said when it comes to mining and resource development the 49 First Nations within NAN have to realize there should be a collective responsibility and also an expectation of collective benefits.

“That’s what we’re talking about – how does that happen today?” said the grand chief. “I think as each of the First Nations chiefs talk about it, they realize they have more in common than differences. Focus on similarities. Focus on the common challenges and develop strategies around it.”

In addition to working with each other, NAN has to find a way to work with the government and industry. Beardy said they are not against resource development, but it has to be done properly.

“We already have a framework in place,” he said. “I think what they’ll be doing is talking about how to implement the relationship, which we established 100 years ago, the treaty making this legally binding. We need to implement it on our side now.”

The chiefs will also be talking about much needed infrastructure in their communities throughout the next three days. Beardy said the situation is becoming desperate and there will be discussion around the lack of basic items like proper housing and clean drinking water.