Matawa Supports the Autonomy of each First Nation and their Decision Making Processes in regards to their Communities and Traditional Territory Statement from Matawa First Nations
November 23, 2011 – Thunder Bay, ON: Matawa First Nations support and respect all of its member communities and their governance and decision making processes. Each Matawa First Nation is autonomous. Government and industry need to consult with each First Nation according to their community protocols. For example, Matawa has an Interim Mineral Measures Process that provides guidelines for industry and government on community consultation, but it does not supercede community processes or decision making. First Nations are increasingly frustrated with the Federal and Provincial Government’s failure to consult on many issues including health, education, and economic development, but especially the environmental assessment process. The First Nation Chiefs of Matawa share their concern for the environment. Matawa First Nations supports Webequie in the development of their Community Position Paper and Consultation and Accommodation Protocol.
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Matawa First Nations is a group of nine Ojibway and Cree First Nation communities in Northern Ontario. Five First Nations (Eabametoong First Nation, Marten Falls First Nation, Nibinamik First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation, Webequie First Nation) are remote and are currently accessible only by air or winter ice road. The communities of Aroland First Nation, Constance Lake First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation, Long Lake #58 First Nation can be accessed by all-season road. Matawa First Nations Management provides advisory services and program delivery to its nine member First Nations. Ring of Fire (ROF) is the name given to a resource rich geographical area located in Matawa First Nation territories and homelands around McFauld lake in Northern Ontario in the heart of the boreal forest and in a one of the largest collections of intact wetlands in the world. |
