Neskantaga
On October 20, 2023, a judge in Ontario Superior Court dismissed the application from Neskantaga First Nation, challenging the Ontario government for failing to fulfill its duty to consult and accommodate. Neskantaga’s Application alleged the Crown, in consultations over plans to build an access road to the Ring of Fire mining area, made it difficult,…
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It’s World Water Day. I am reflecting on the February anniversary of Neskantaga First Nation’s boil water advisory. At 29 years (and counting), it’s the longest in Canadian history. Despite Trudeau’s 2015 election promise to get clean drinking water in all Indigenous communities by 2021, the federal government continues to “discuss” how to move forward…
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Chiefs call on Ford to meet about mining incursions In an inspiring appeal for recognition and respect, four First Nations Chiefs from Northern Ontario are calling on Ontario Premier Doug Ford to meet with them face-to-face to address growing concerns about mining incursions on their Indigenous Homelands. The request for a meeting comes after Premier…
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On August 23, 2023, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) of Ontario sent a letter to Chief Moonias of the Neskantaga Nation. The ministry informed him of their approval of a License to Collect Fish for “Scientific Purposes”. This application came from SL Consulting (Canada) Ltd. on behalf of Ring of Fire Metals…
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Neskantaga Nation, located in the expansive peatlands of Northern Ontario, appeared in court last week. The remote First Nation, faced with multiple evacuations in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 and water quality issues from the 28 year long boil-water advisory, had no capacity to gather with their elders and knowledge-keepers to discuss an all…
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As of Sunday June 19th 2022, Neskantaga First Nation has reached 10,000 days of a boil water advisory, meaning that they have no access to clean drinking water. This outrageous inequity has been persistent for 27 years. For the 25 year old Neskantaga First Nations member, Charla Moonias, having to boil water has been the…
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A video released by Mining Injustice powerfully frames the dilemma Neskantaga and neighbouring Anishinaabe Nations face when struggling to uphold their stewardship responsibilities and protect watersheds. Hear from Neskantaga’s chief Wayne Moonias and tap into vital community knowledge about the Ring of Fire. Video is by Friends of the Attawapiskat River Coalition : please visit…
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At the end of 2021, RAVEN launched a new campaign to support Neskantaga Nation’s Free, Prior and Informed Consent in the “Ring of Fire.” With your amazing help, we have raised $84,000 for their legal challenge. Now, we’ve teamed up with Mining Watch Canada to launch a petition that we hope you will sign, share, and…
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This Canadaland podcast episode is worth a listen all the way through: hear host Ryan McMahon and guest Pam Palmater chew the fat over the erasure of Indigenous rights in the Ontario Conservative party’s rush to develop the
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A people united, determined, and committed to protecting their lands and water Many of you will remember the hunger strike by Chief Theresa Spence, who camped out on Parliament Hill for 6 weeks to draw attention to the drinking water crisis in Ontario’s north. That was 2013. Here we are, in 2021, and despite speeches,…
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