Fort Severn halts aerial surveying to protect land, push for revenue sharing

While Fort Severn Cree Nation’s decision to stop aerial geologic surveying on its traditional lands was made in support of national Idle No More protests and demands, it also stemmed from the community’s desire to protect its lands and its mistrust of the provincial government’s intentions around mining.
Fort Severn Councilor Angus Miles, responsible for lands and resources, told Wawatay News that his community is extremely concerned about future impacts from mining that could result from the aerial surveying.
Miles said that despite Ontario’s consultation efforts in Fort Severn, many people in the community do not trust the government when it comes to the surveying.
“It all comes back to the bad relations with governments,” Miles said. “In regards to mining, the biggest concern is that if they finish the survey and it becomes public information, the government will give out the mining permits and that’s what we don’t want to happen.”
Aerial geologic surveying started on Fort Severn’s traditional lands in December 2012, after representatives with the Ontario Geologic Survey (OGS) visited the community in March, August and December to hold information meetings and consultation.
Fort Severn had agreed to allow OGS to conduct the surveying, but a newly elected chief and council that took office in August 2012 was not so keen on the work being done.
Miles said their concerns were amplified once the surveying began and community members started asking questions about the planes that were seen in the area.
Since the First Nation demanded that the surveying stop on Jan. 18, Miles said many community members have expressed that they are happy with the steps the band has taken.
“Our land base is way bigger than most communities, and we use it year round,” Miles said. “That’s a big difference here, we rely on the land heavily for most of our diet.”
He added that Fort Severn is very concerned about environmental damage, considering the fragility of the ecosystem along the Hudson Bay coast.
“If anything is done to the environment, it’s going to take a very long time to go back to normal,” Miles said. “Things take awhile to grow around here.”
Besides environmental concerns, the community is also wary of giving up control over its resources before resource revenue sharing agreements are in place with the federal and provincial governments.
That is where Fort Severn’s interests intersect with Idle No More and the hunger strike of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence.
“We look at Attawapiskat, with the diamond mine right there, and they’re not getting much benefit from it,” Miles said. “If (a mine) were to happen here, we would want to have more say in it. But as it is right now, we’re not going to get any profits from it since there is no revenue sharing agreement with the governments.”
Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MDNM) oversees the OGS. An MDNM spokesperson told Wawatay News that the government had received Fort Severn’s request and immediately instructed the company doing the surveying to stop the work.
Julia Bennett of MDNM said that the surveying is being done in part to support a five-year geology mapping plan developed by the government “based on interests shared by the community” such as water and energy.
“This project will help researchers understand things like the geological history of the region, ground energy potential, mineral resource potential, groundwater implications, safety and health implications,” Bennett wrote in an email. “All this data is to be shared with the First Nation and can help the community develop a land-use plan that considers both quality of life and economic development opportunities.”
But Miles said Fort Severn believes the government is simply doing the “first step” for mining companies wanting to explore for minerals in the region.
Meanwhile Fort Severn wants to complete its land use plan on its own timelines, he said, in order that the community’s vast territory is completely documented.
“We want to cover everything (in the land use plan) to try and protect the land,” Miles said. “It seems like the government is pushing us to try and create certainty for mining companies. They don’t understand what the land means for us.”
MNDM said it has contacted Fort Severn in regards to next steps in the aerial surveying. The government plans to work with the community on those next steps.
Miles said the First Nation plans to hold a community meeting in the near future to discuss next steps, and that it will not make any suggestions to the province until that meeting takes place.