Communities need capacity support to deal with mining, says Fiddler

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) deputy grand chief Alvin Fiddler says the state of emergency declared by Neskantaga last week shows how difficult it will be for some communities to deal with multinational mining companies wanting to develop on traditional lands.
Neskantaga declared a state of emergency on April 17 after the fourth suicide and seventh tragic death in the community in the past year.
The community is located near the proposed Ring of Fire mining development. Councellor Roy Moonias said Neskantaga faces “overwhelming pressure” to respond to demands of mining companies and governments on the development.
“They are not ready,” Fiddler said of Neskantaga’s involvement in the Ring of Fire. “They need time to deal with their issues, to ensure that they can be meaningful partners in the development.”
“The stress they are feeling from governments and industry to proceed with development is contributing to the problems,” Fiddler added.
Fiddler said that both the provincial and federal governments need to step in to assist communities meet the demands of the mining development.
“There has to be a recognition by everyone that there needs to be more capacity in the community for them to be meaningful partners in development,” Fiddler said. “There has to be some level playing field to help them have a meaningful conversation with industry, some capacity built in from the government to enable them to do that.”
One of the stresses related to development that Moonias cited is the ongoing federal and provincial environmental assessments.
Matawa First Nations have called for a Joint Review Panel environmental assessment for the region, which would combine the federal and provincial assessments into one assessment as well as provide in-community opportunities for communities such as Neskantaga to voice their concerns and ideas about the proposed development.
Under the ongoing comprehensive review environmental assessment, Neskantaga and other impacted communities have to respond to long, technical documents in writing under strict timelines.
Fiddler said that governments and industry are not adequately acknowledging the challenges faced by leadership in communities, including dealing with suicides and other tragedies, when it comes to responding to deadlines related to mining development.
“Because the deaths are happening one after another, the leadership has no time to properly grieve,” Fiddler said. “They’re exhausted, and it does impact their own ability to carry on with the administration of the community.”