Letter to the Editor

Creating constructive solutions to obstacles of mammoth resource development projects like the Ring of Fire and in the grassroots design of a pathway to prosperity for the Matawa First Nations primarily rests with the First Nation peoples of the land. Furthermore, it has been stated time and time again to government officials that their role to support economic initiatives and processes at both the individual First Nation and Tribal Council level is essential to moving forward in the Ring of Fire and beyond. The Matawa First Nations are autonomous and resistant to top-down planning by governments in Canada. It has a long standing record of failure and is inaccurate of a First Nation’s true ambitions, goals, and concepts of community well-being.
In past development in other areas in northwestern Ontario, it was identified that the First Nations in the proximity of development were not prepared to engage either the developer, the regulatory process, or participate in the construction and operation of the mine, due to a lack of capacity at all levels, from education to governance, technical, infrastructure, legal etc...The Matawa First Nations don’t want to see this happen in the Ring of Fire and need to be resourced to plan and prepare for all of the long-term socio-economic change that comes with this development.
Matawa First Nations Management has unprecedented organizational process assets that assist in the daily operations of the Tribal Council and in the delivery of advisory services and programs to the nine member First Nations for over 25 years.
Matawa’s Education Department and Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services (KKETS) are improving the educational attainment level and labour force participation rates of the First Nation peoples. Financial Advisory Services is helping to build strong governance structures with First Nations’ band management. Capacity building in land and resource management is carried out by Four Rivers Environmental Services and the Ring of Fire Department that help member First Nations manage one of their greatest assets – their lands and natural resources. The Health and Social Services staff and the infrastructure support by Technical Services are seen as life-lines that help with community well-being and public safety. Matawa Communications is integrated across all departments to give a stronger unified voice to First Nations concerns.
However, Matawa Economic Development receives inadequate support from government with the current level of services not meeting the needs of the First Nations. If nothing changes, it will not meet the increasing demand. At the community level, the Matawa First Nations lack funds to collectively identify, plan and implement joint projects amongst themselves. These shortfalls result in a model of information asymmetry and fragmentation of planning that curtails informed decision making. This is a major barrier to productive regional discussions on land use and infrastructure that prevents the First Nations to arriving at a consensus on serious issues within their First Nations traditional lands.
The Matawa Tribal Council is seeking to undertake a holistic approach (cultural, social, economic, and environmental) to planning to ensure that Matawa First Nations are well-positioned to both minimize potential negative effects, and maximize benefits, from any developments. We cannot achieve this without multi-year government support for ongoing technical advice to the member First Nations and a platform for capacity building to occur.
The Matawa communities have set out to overcome the legacy of colonialism, poverty and structural barricades to economic growth by empowering community members through direct participation in grassroots community-driven planning. By leveraging the region and the Tribal Council’s resources, the Matawa First Nations will improve the capacity to develop their own individual community economies.
A strategic investment from FedNor and Aboriginal Affairs Northern Development Canada is the full support of individual Matawa First Nations and Tribal Council economic development initiatives. Matawa First Nations Management is optimistic that the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund’s review of its programs will consider the needs of the First Nations in the development area and evolve the granting process with flexible, creative features to support them. Rapid and considerable improvement is needed for the next few years to create the opportunity-ready Matawa communities, viable businesses, and skilled workforce that will drive the future economic success of northwestern Ontario. This will have a positive economic multiplier effect on the rest of Ontario and Canada, as the saying goes “a rising tide lifts all boats.”
Jason Paul Rasevych
economic development advisor and program manager with
Matawa First Nations Management