Why I Will Defend the Attawapiskat River

Editor’s note: This is a copy of the speech given by Chief Peter Moonias to an Ottawa audience last week.
Chief Peter Moonias
Neskantaga First Nation
On May 9th Cliffs Natural Resources, an American Mining Company announced that they had made a deal with Ontario to develop a $3.2 Billion mine in the heart of my homeland on the Attawapiskat River.
What had Section 35 of the Constitution given my community up until the Cliffs announcement?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The whole Ring of Fire development began back in 2002 when the mining companies staked 30, 000 mining claims on my homeland.
Did they talk to my community after they staked those claims. No.
The Mining Companies have spent more than $100 million exploring these claims.
What did my community get? Nothing.
In 2010 the big American Mining company bought a junior mining company Freewest for $240 million.
What did my community get? Nothing.
Did the Ontario government come and consult with my community?
No.
Are they breaking the law and ignoring section 35 of the Constitution? My lawyers say they are.
But do I have a million dollars to take Ontario to court and get my rights?
No.
So in May 2012 when Cliffs announced they were going to build a 350 kilometre road into the heart of my territory and build a 1000 foot bridge to cross the Attawapiskat River I said enough is enough.
I went on the media and said “they will have to kill me first, before they cross the Attawapiskat river.”
That’s my interpretation of Section 35. Our community will stand on the land and defend our rights.
We can’t wait for Ontario to meet its legal obligations. We have to act and assert our rights and jurisdiction.
We believe that our ancestors never surrendered the land when they made treaty in 1905.
We still have jurisdiction on the land.
And we will assert that jurisdiction.
We all know that Musselwhite and De Beers Victor mines have done virtually nothing for the affected First Nations.
The money and most of the jobs have left the region and the land and rivers have been damaged forever.
Attawapiskat still has no proper housing, education and drinking water. So much for economic development being a cure all.
What Cliffs is proposing is much worse.
The permanent road will open up the whole area. The huge open pit will change the way the water flows.
The mine will potentially release toxic cancer causing chemicals like Chromium6, mercury and other heavy metals.
Once there is a permanent access road our way of life will be changed forever.
We will not be able to turn back the clock.
The only way First Nations can really benefit from these projects is if there are real First
Nation institutions and governance of the far north region.
First Nation institutions have to replace MNR and MNDM.
Jurisdiction must come through First Nation institutions.
Once the Cliffs project goes ahead First Nations will have little leverage to get the institutions, revenue streams etc that are need to be in place before the far north is opened up once and forever.
This is a moment that comes only once a generation and will likely never come again.
Ontario wants a $3 billion mine.
And we have nothing to lose.
Thank You.