Mining conflict sparks KI protests

The ongoing conflict between Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) and God’s Lake Resources took center stage on the mining front in a week that saw the Prospectors and Developers Association announce a former First Nations chief as president and a huge mining conference turn the attention of the world to northern Ontario minerals.
KI attracted hundreds of protestors to a Toronto rally against mining exploration on its traditional lands, right outside a mining conference where 30,000 delegates from around the world had gathered.
At the same time, KI Chief Donny Morris was at Sherman Lake, north of his community, keeping vigil in case God’s Lake Resources went ahead with promises to restart exploration on KI’s traditional lands.
The Ontario government also jumped into the fray, quietly announcing that it has withdrawn a massive parcel of land near KI – 23,000 square kilometres – from mining exploration and development.
Morris later said the government took his First Nation by surprise with the announcement, as talks between the two parties had broken off last November.
Meanwhile, inside the conference the largest number of First Nations delegates ever were in attendance, creating quite a stir in the mining industry.
Four Matawa First Nations made a splash by signing an agreement to work on building their own East-West transportation corridor to serve the Ring of Fire.
And Webequie First Nation signed a letter of agreement to work with Cliffs Natural Resources on a Ring of Fire Memorandum of Understanding, to acclaim from industry representatives.
It all amounted to a wild week for northern Ontario First Nations and the mining industry.
Find stories on the Ring of Fire transportation network on page 3, the Prospectors and Developers conference on page 8 and KI’s struggle on pages 10 and 11.