First Nation and Ontario ink historic agreement
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Source: SNnewswatch.com
The Eabametoong First Nation has begun “a new chapter in its relationship with the province,” according to a news release it issued on Wednesday.
Eabametoong First Nation and Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford have reached “an agreement to provide our community a seat at the table — a Relationship Table — where our priorities and interests can be advanced,” Chief Solomon Atlookan said.
The agreement “will enable focused discussion” between Eabametoong and government ministries on priorities including community well-being, resource governance and economic development, the release stated.
Key objectives identified by the First Nation include the design and construction of a youth centre and reducing local energy costs.
On energy costs, Eabametoong chief and council announced Monday that they have secured a power subsidy that will reduce household electricity bills by as much as 20 per cent.
The “relationship agreement” with Rickford’s ministry “was three years in the making, with back and forth with both of our lawyers making sure that we all agree how it’s going to be written up to everybody’s satisfaction,” Atlookan told Newswatch.
“A lot of work has gone into this, ensuring that we have a shared commitment with Ontario to improve community life, and we have some very important work ahead of us.
“This new Relationship Table will contribute to improving communications, our internal planning, employment and training, as well as economic development strategies.”
The Ontario-Eabametoong relationship agreement commits both parties to periodic meetings to review progress.
Eabametoong is one of the Treaty 9 First Nations with traditional territory in the Ring of Fire, a roughly 5,000-square-kilometre crescent of land rich in nickel, chromite, platinum and other critical minerals.
The province has been building relationships with those First Nations for cooperation in Ring of Fire mine projects including the Eagle’s Nest mine that Australian corporation Wyloo wants to build and operate. Last fall, for example, it signed $39.5-million agreements with both Marten Falls and Webequie.
Atlookan said this new agreement relates to the Ring of Fire “in a way” but “we are focusing right now on our own traditional territory.”
The terms for mineral exploration companies to drill in Eabametoong territory were “set prior to this relationship agreement,” he said.
“The other thing that we really want to do is, we want to be involved in the resource decision-making process.”
His community wants more transparency on resource matters, he said, “rather than finding out later that a decision has been made without consulting with our First Nation.”
(Photo courtesy of the Office of MPP Greg Rickford)
