A meeting that started with smudging and drumming at Fort William First Nation Community Hall in Thunder Bay on September 17 proceeded without much conflict despite the somewhat controversial topic. The topic was mining, and it was being discussed after Thunder Bay lost its bid for a chromium processing plant that went instead to Sudbury, Ontario.
In light of losing the chromium plant, leaders in the region appealed to the Canadian federal government, asking what could be done to help the region economically. The government responded by providing assistance for a “Thunder Bay Mining Readiness Strategy” that would equip the workforce and plan for infrastructure to support a plethora of mining projects expected to come to fruition over the next 20-25 years.
Close to 1,000 “junior” mining companies are conducting mining explorations in the region, said Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins, also the regional grand chief of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Northern Superior Chiefs. This could be significant to the 2,077 people registered with Fort William First Nation and the 121,596 people in the metropolitan Thunder Bay area.
Many spinoff jobs will be created, because the mining projects under development could include building roads and railways and bringing electricity into new areas. Communities that are presently fly-in could be connected to the rest of the country with roads. The port in Thunder Bay, including some land in the Fort William reservation, could become a major hub of commerce.
Funding for the infrastructure supporting future mining projects has not been determined. According to Steven Lindley, vice-president of aboriginal and northern affairs at SNC-Lavalin Inc., a company hired to help with the Mining Readiness Strategy, the private sector could build infrastructure as it is needed, the government could put it in, or it could be a public private partnership.
Chief Collins said he thought the Mining Readiness Strategy would be a “hard sell” to the Fort William community. He pointed out that the reality, however, is that with a decline in the timber industry, mining and energy are now at the forefront of industrial initiatives.
Collins stressed the need for people to get the education they will need to be ready for the jobs that are likely to come their way. He has been asking area youth, “Do you want to be the guy on the shovel, or do you want to be the guy giving the guy on the shovel instructions?” He said he wants all communities to have “sustainable” futures.
“We’re all in this together,” said John Mason, mining services project manager for the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC). “Mineral wealth here is quite astounding.” About one third of Canada’s gold production comes out of northwestern Ontario, and the world’s richest gold mine is in Red Lake, he said.
Duty to consult with First Nations
Stephen Lindley said they are aware of the need to sustain the health of the environment and the health and safety of the people. They know they will have to address water and fisheries, noise, and traffic issues.
Lindley said he expects a lot of dialogue in the coming years as they work to “get things right.” He said it’s not about compromising the land, the social fabric, or traditional culture. “It’s all about compromising in the right way,” he said.
The Mining Readiness Strategy was initiated by Fort William First Nation and the city of Thunder Bay but will involve many other communities in the region as well. The process will include public meetings to convey information and gather input.
First Nations have the right to be consulted and accommodated for activities on their traditional lands—which compromise all of Canada. According to a Fort William First Nation document entitled Our Traditional Territory and the Duty to Consult, “Governments are actively promoting arrangements whereby First Nations derive an economic benefit from development on our traditional lands. Any company or organization that wants to do business on First Nation land had best be prepared to enter into negotiations with any First Nation that may be adversely impacted by the proposed activity.”
The Supreme Court of Canada has been making decisions that protect aboriginal and treaty rights since a landmark case in 1990 (R.v.Sparrow, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1075). Fort William Economic Development Manager Edmond Collins said even small groups of Native people have effectively stopped industrial projects.
Tension between environment and opportunity
In an interview after the meeting, Chief Peter Collins said some tribal members are opposed to mining projects if they do not benefit the area. They are always looking for new opportunities to develop ways to make a living, he said, but they need to take steps to protect the land when pursuing projects such as these. “Our land is our value,” he said.
Regarding concerns over environmental damage from mining, Chief Collins said that technology continues to develop, and better ways of taking care of mining residuals are being developed. Residuals are even being used to generate revenue in some cases, he said.
Every Native community across Canada is talking about this issue, Chief Collins said. Some are opposed to mining, and some look forward to the economic opportunities it will bring. Communities that may be reached by road for the first time are looking forward to easier access to more metropolitan areas because it would make the cost of living lower. Issues regarding potential loss of Native culture, identity, and language would need to be addressed, however.
Stephen Lindley said the city of Thunder Bay recognizes that the Native community is the traditional steward of the land and looks to them as a partner. The Mining Readiness Strategy would address a lot of overlapping agendas, he said.
Concerns over the environmental impact of mining increase the further north you go, Lindley said, because more people up north still live off the land. There is a struggle for balance, he said. “There’s a tension.” The youth want opportunities, while the older people have concerns.
Another example
According to a September 21 Canadian Press article, Taseko Mines Ltd. recently re-submitted an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed gold-copper mine called New Prosperity in British Columbia two years after its original EIS was rejected. The Tsilhqot’in National Government has opposed the project, taking issue with the impact it would make on a lake of spiritual importance to its people. The article quoted Taseko president/ CEO Russell Hallbauer: “We are committed to the responsible development of New Prosperity.” The first proposal called for draining the lake and using it for a tailings pond.
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