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The Chief of Neskantaga First Nation says he and others within his community are willing to die to prevent the development of a mine in the Ring of Fire.
Wayne Moonias made the comments in a video posted to Youtube while attending the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto, directing those comments to the leadership of Ring of Fire Metals.
“You’re not going to cross our river system without our free and prior informed consent, you’re going to have to kill us, you’re gonna have to do more than just getting access from the province of Ontario.”
According to Moonias the video was shot just after it was announced the Province had approved the Terms of Reference for a new all season road, a project which is being led by nearby Webequie and Marten Falls First Nations.
The corridor dubbed the “Northern Link” would cross the Attawapiskat River downstream of the community and would eventually allow access for Webequie and Marten Falls residents to the provincial highway network.
“No roads will go in without our consent, no development is going to go in without our consent.”
Moonias states the community is going to fight to defend their rights.
“This is a message to all the investors, if you want to come and do business in our traditional homelands, you have to get the free prior informed consent that is it. No other government no other nation can tell you that.”
The full video can be seen here.