Latest news with #NeskantagaFirstNation
Edmonton Journal
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
First Nations call for Ontario environment minister to resign for trying to stop clean water bill
Article content The province gave cabinet the power to suspend provincial and municipal laws through the creation of so-called 'special economic zones' that First Nations say ignore their treaty rights. The province intends to name the mineral-rich Ring of Fire in northern Ontario as the first such zone. Article content Debassige and several dozen First Nation chiefs met with Premier Doug Ford a few weeks ago to discuss Bill 5. Ford had said the day before that First Nations should stop coming to him 'hat in hand' if they don't get on board with Bill 5. Article content He then apologized to Debassige and those chiefs in a private meeting before repeating it at a news conference on live television. Article content Debassige and the chiefs accepted that apology and agreed to move forward with extensive consultations on the new law. Article content Debassige said Ford told them that day he was in full support of clean drinking water for all Ontario First Nations and was going to figure out a way to help. That issue is a federal one, though Ford hinted on radio recently the province might step up if the federal government does not. Article content Article content 'Everyone deserves fresh drinking water,' Ford said of First Nations on NewsTalk 1010. Article content Debassige still takes the premier's word and believes McCarthy had gone 'rogue.' Article content 'To hear directly from the premier that he is in full support and then have one of his ministers turn around and ask the prime minister of Canada to essentially decommit in introducing C-61 is a complete show of disrespect, a show of incompetence and he's a loose cannon in my view,' said Debassige. Article content Ontario passed the Clean Water Act in 2006, which ensures the protection of municipal drinking water systems. That came in response to the deadly E. coli outbreak in Walkerton, Ont., that killed seven people and made more than 2,000 people sick. Article content But that Ontario bill does not extend to First Nations in the province because of jurisdictional issues. Article content The federal clean water bill is part of a court-ordered settlement over a class-action lawsuit First Nations won against Ottawa over this very issue. Article content Article content Debassige helped draft that legislation, saying it was historic in many ways, including the fact the federal government worked with First Nations to write it. Article content 'The process we went through and we were able to negotiate was a testament to the government's commitment to reconciliation,' she said. Article content 'This is not reconciliation. I know the premier's office is very aware of our position and our response to these idiotic comments.' Article content The Ford government has been taking pains to assuage First Nations' concerns over Bill 5 in the last month, pledging extensive consultations and a say in how related regulations are drafted. Article content Neskantaga First Nation in northern Ontario has lived under a boil-water advisory for more than 30 years. The community says the water gives them lesions, eczema and a host of other skin issues if they shower or bathe in it. It leads to gastrointestinal issues if they drink from the taps and about half of the community has never lived at a time when the water was safe to drink.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
‘This is our home': Two First Nations setting up encampment near proposed bridge to Ring of Fire
Jeronimo Kataquapit, right, and his father James A. Kataquapit, from Attawapiskat First Nation, are shown on the Attawapiskat River in this recent handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Jeronimo Kataquapit (Mandatory Credit) A political decision one thousand kilometres from Jeronimo Kataquapit's home in a remote First Nation near James Bay set the course for his summer. Now, the 20-year-old from Attawapiskat First Nation, his father, mother and older brother are headed upriver in two 24-foot freighter canoes on a 400-kilometre journey to 'reassert First Nations' presence' near the Ring of Fire region in northern Ontario. The family hopes to make it to their final stop, near a proposed bridge over the Attawapiskat River, by Saturday. There, they will meet a contingent from Neskantaga First Nation as the two communities unite to build a quasi-permanent encampment — and make a political statement. 'This is our home. This is our own territory, not just Attawapiskat's, but every nation in the area,' Kataquapit said in a recent phone interview with The Canadian Press, speaking from under a tarp in his canoe as his father navigated small rapids. They brought more than 200 litres of gasoline to run the 25-horsepower motors on their canoes. A generator also powers their Starlink kit that gives them access to high-speed internet from anywhere in order to document their travels on social media and stay connected to the outside world. The family left Attawapiskat on June 16 for the journey Kataquapit has dubbed 'Here We Stand,' which he said is a call to action to First Nations to show the federal and provincial governments they want to be consulted before any further development and mining in the mineral-rich Ring of Fire. The idea crystallized for Kataquapit in late May when Ottawa introduced Bill C-5, which Prime Minister Mark Carney's government said is designed to speed up major projects deemed to be in the 'national interest.' That bill, which was fast-tracked through the House of Commons and is now before the Senate, came on the heels of the similar Bill 5 that was rammed through the provincial legislature at Queen's Park in Toronto. A part of that legislation gives Ontario's cabinet the power to suspend provincial and municipal laws in so-called special economic zones in order to speed up projects such as mines. Premier Doug Ford has said the Ring of Fire would be the first such zone. Both pieces of legislation prompted outrage and protests at Queen's Park and Parliament Hill by First Nations who say the bills trample their rights and ignore their concerns. First Nations across the country, particularly those in northern Ontario, have warned they could turn to blockading roads, railways and mines if the legislation is not repealed. 'There's no way the governments can amend those bills,' Kataquapit said. 'Get rid of it, then maybe we can discuss other things.' Neskantaga First Nation members have already flown to the Ring of Fire encampment site to prepare it and they plan to head back there this week to meet Kataquapit and his family, said Chief Gary Quisess. About a dozen Neskantaga community members made their way by boat plane to the proposed river crossing, built a dock and are ready to dig in for the long haul. 'It's going to be a little, small community,' Quisess said. 'Our message is simple: no one will cross the Attawapiskat River without our free, prior and informed consent.' Neskantaga wants the governments to help its community first before agreeing on any development deal. Its nursing station flooded two months ago and remains boarded up, Quisess said. The First Nation also holds a notorious record — it has been living under a boil-water advisory for 30 years. 'We live in a third world,' he said. The province has proposed three roads that would connect the provincial highway system to two First Nations, Webequie and Marten Falls, as well as the mining exploration site known as Eagle's Nest inside the Ring of Fire. That proposed mine is owned by Wyloo, an Australian company. Two environmental assessments have been completed and a third one is underway for those roads. The completed reports have said the roads will take four to six years to build. Two bridge crossings of the Attawapiskat River have also been proposed. Both Neskantaga and Attawapiskat First Nations reside on the Attawapiskat River some 450 kilometres apart and they revere the waters that have provided life and sustenance for generations. They plan to live off the river and the land once entrenched near the Ring of Fire. 'The river is a very sacred area, many of our ancestors are buried along the shoreline, where they lived before,' Quisess said. In the days before his family's departure, Kataquapit held lengthy meetings with leadership to inform the rest of the community about the provincial and federal legislation. They also made several dozen Attawapiskat First Nation flags and family flags. Those flags are painted with handprints, signatures and messages like 'Kill Bill 5.' Kataquapit has been planting them on the shore along the river route. Some days, his family travels nine hours and up to 60 kilometres. Other days are slower and shorter, with the canoes moving between four and seven kilometres per hour, he said. 'Around this time the river really starts to dry up, so it's really shallow in some parts, so we have to get off the boat and put on our long boots and drag the boats,' he said. 'It's just slow and steady travel. It's been long, it's been tough, but we are going to get there to stand with Neskantaga for all First Nations.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
Hamilton Spectator
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Here We Stand': River journey protests controversial bills
A 20-year-old university student from Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario is putting his summer on hold — to take a 400-kilometre boat journey in protest against new provincial and federal bills he says threaten his people's land, culture and way of life. Jeronimo Kataquapit is leading a grassroots movement called 'Here We Stand,' a direct response to Ontario's recently passed Bill 5 and the proposed federal Bill C-5 — pieces of legislation that, according to Indigenous leaders, accelerate mining and development in the Ring of Fire region without proper Indigenous consultation. Kataquapit's journey, which began Monday from Attawapiskat, is a physical reassertion of Indigenous presence and inherent rights in a territory he argues is wrongly portrayed as uninhabited. 'One of the general opinions I hear is that there are no First Nations here, that our way of life is gone,' Kataquapit said. 'They say that whenever they come to do surveys or look around, there's no evidence we were here — but there is evidence that we were here.' To emphasize his point, Kataquapit is planting tipi poles every half-kilometre and raising community-made flags to mark the nations' territory and challenge the claim that the Ring of Fire is 'empty land.' Visible markers will send a clear message to both levels of government, he said. Bill 5 and Bill C-5 will open the door for governments to carve out special economic zones or designate projects that can bypass both environmental rules and the need for Indigenous consent. 'UNDRIP is broken. Free, prior, and informed consent is broken. The duty to consult is broken,' said Coleen Moonias, a spokesperson for Neskantaga First Nation. 'We must continue to fight together and be united.' At the heart of this dispute is the Ring of Fire, a vast mineral-rich region that provincial and federal governments see as key to Canada's ambitions as an 'international resource superpower.' Attawapiskat and Neskantaga are Cree and Oji-Cree First Nations located in the James Bay Lowlands. Both are members of the Mushkegowuk Council and have a long history of defending their lands and waterways from industrial development, including projects in the Ring of Fire region. The council, after seeing Kataquapit's efforts, helped turn his solo action into a larger movement. 'Anything that happens by the Ring of Fire will affect Attawapiskat itself, whether it's hydroelectric dams, whether it's any type of environmental contamination, will affect Attawapiskat. All water flows down,' Kataquapit said. The James Bay Lowlands is one of the world's largest untouched peatland areas. This area has vast wetlands, forests and rivers that provide important homes for woodland caribou, lake sturgeon and millions of migratory birds. People living along the Attawapiskat River, which flows 748 kilometres from Attawapiskat Lake, call themselves 'the water people,' as they care for the rivers, swamps and peatlands around them. Wetlands act as a carbon sink, helping to filter and clean the water that flows into the rivers. 'They call it the swamp. They call us Swampy Cree people. So they have a purpose,' Michel Koostachin, a member of Attawapiskat First Nation. If protections are weakened, local First Nations fear mining could harm habitats and contaminate the water with industrial pollutants and toxins. 'Industry comes and goes — whether it's dams, hydro or mining — but the people who don't come and go are the First Nations people,' said Abram Benedict, Ontario regional chief for the Chiefs of Ontario. 'When the land is desecrated, it's the First Nations people who are left to clean it up. There are no water pipelines running up into the north, and while there are many fresh bodies of water, it only takes one bad environmental disaster to contaminate them all. I don't blame people for wanting to protect the land.' Neskantaga, located upriver, has endured Canada's longest-running boil water advisory — over 30 years. Attawapiskat has also faced on-and-off boil water advisories for years. While allies organize rallies and lobby at Parliament Hill and Queen's Park, Kataquapit — a filmmaker and second-year geography and environmental management student at the University of Waterloo — is travelling with his parents and brother along the Attawapiskat River. 'We're out in what most people would consider the middle of nowhere—about 500 kilometres north of the nearest highway,' Kataquapit said. The trip came together just two weeks ago, after Kataquapit learned about federal Bill C-5, then known as the 'national interest' legislation. 'When I first heard of Bill C-5, I thought, 'Okay, this is it. They're going to come in and this is just going to completely stomp all over our race,'' he said. 'The Ring of Fire is coming, and we have to act.' Kataquapit pointed to Ontario's Bill 5 as clear evidence that the provincial government does not value meaningful input from Indigenous communities. He noted that the legislation was passed without consulting First Nations, undermining the duty to consult and weakening legal protections for Indigenous rights and the environment. 'The time for talking is over. Just look at Ontario's Bill 5. They showed us how much our words are worth to them,' he said. 'We have to go out on the land and get things started.' Kataquapit called his parents and told them he was clearing his summer. They immediately agreed, cancelling their own plans to join him on the river. He used his university funds to get started — fuel, supplies and gear. As word spread, donations began arriving from Attawapiskat, neighbouring First Nations and supporters online. Over the week, the community created family flags with handwritten messages like: 'Youth are for the land,' 'Youth want to protect the land' and 'We need to conserve the land and waters for future generations.' The family livestreams their journey on Facebook , using a Starlink internet connection powered by a generator set up on their boat. This allows them to share their trip in real time as they move along the river and make stops. 'I'm not waiting for anyone. We just need to get out there and start informing as many people as possible,' Kataquapit said. The journey upriver is tough, especially this time of year. Water levels are low, forcing them at times to get out and pull the boats through shallow stretches. His mother, Monique Edwards, said the family's connection to the land runs deep. 'We're people that go out on the land all the time. He's always been; even before he walked, we got him out on the land,' she said. The initial destination for the river journey was the confluence of the Muketei River and the main Attawapiskat River. Now they plan to go further, which involves a first stop at the Muketei River junction to plant the family flags and take videos on Friday, followed by a continuation further upriver to establish an encampment with Neskantaga First Nation and other Indigenous communities who have expressed interest in joining. Members of Attawapiskat and other First Nations are expected to join them by float plane at the encampment, possibly next Monday. Kataquapit said more than 30 people have already signed up for the float planes, and he expects more to join. He said all of this is being funded through donations and individuals' personal money. Kataquapit is documenting every step as the expedition's videographer, photographer and social media manager. He sees the fight against the bills as a long-term commitment, and is determined to remain on the land throughout the summer and fall — and if necessary into the winter. 'Me and my parents, we're not going back to Attawapiskat. We're not going anywhere else until Bill 5 is withdrawn,' he said. Edwards said she is reflecting on the connection she has with their ancestors as they travel through the same places along the river that have been used for millennia. That connection to the past shapes how the family approaches their boat journey today. 'We don't just come in, make our mark, and leave it at that,' Kataquapit said. 'We spread out the fires, gather every single piece of trash, and carry it with us the entire journey. A large part of why we're doing this trip is to reassert our presence and show what true stewardship looks like.' Kataquapit warns that if governments are allowed to bypass Indigenous rights here, it sets a dangerous precedent for Indigenous nations across Canada and globally. 'Everyone is looking at the Ring of Fire. If we manage to stop, if we stand our ground and say, 'This is where we're going to stand, right here, and we're not going to move,' and if we are successful, then I think that will set a really solid precedent for every other potential conflict with the federal and provincial governments across Canada,' he said. 'These young people are making the stand. They're calling out peaceful protests, they're not blockading the road,' said Koostachin, who is also founder of Friends of Attawapiskat River, a coalition of community members and allies working to protect Attawapiskat, Neskantaga, and other Treaty 9 nations. Beyond peaceful demonstrations, legal action is also underway. Koostachin said Friends of Attawapiskat River are working closely with legal counsel from Legal Advocates for Nature's Defence and are committed to challenging the validity of Ontario's Bill 5 in court, arguing it violates Indigenous and treaty rights. He said that a First Nation — yet to be publicly named — is expected to lead the legal action, with Friends of Attawapiskat River and other First Nations communities prepared to intervene and submit arguments stating breaches of Indigenous, treaty and Aboriginal rights, as well as violations of UNDRIP. Similar legal challenges are anticipated if Bill C-5 is enacted at the federal level. 'The region is the last pristine land in northern Ontario,' said Koostachin. 'There will be no bulldozing across the Attawapiskat River without our consent. Our people will stand together and stand strong.' 'We're not environmental radicals. We're the stewards of the land ... we're not protesters, we're protectors.' Sonal Gupta / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
National Observer
20-06-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
'Here We Stand': River journey protests controversial bills By Sonal Gupta News Urban Indigenous Communities in Ottawa June 20th 2025 Scroll down to continue Share this article
Jeronimo Kataquapit with his parents and brother by the Attawapiskat River during one of the protests. Courtesy of Jeronimo Kataquapit. A 20-year-old university student from Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario is putting his summer on hold — and taking a 400-kilometre boat journey to protest against new provincial and federal bills he says threaten his people's land, culture and way of life. Jeronimo Kataquapit is leading a grassroots movement called "Here We Stand," a direct response to Ontario's recently passed Bill 5 and the proposed federal Bill C-5 — pieces of legislation that, according to Indigenous leaders, accelerate mining and development in the Ring of Fire region without proper Indigenous consultation. Kataquapit's journey, which began Monday from Attawapiskat, is a physical reassertion of Indigenous presence and inherent rights in a territory he argues is wrongly portrayed as uninhabited. 'One of the general opinions I hear is that there are no First Nations here, that our way of life is gone,' Kataquapit said. 'They say that whenever they come to do surveys or look around, there's no evidence we were here — but there is evidence that we were here.' To emphasize his point, Kataquapit is planting tipi poles every half-kilometre and raising community-made flags to mark the nations' territory and challenge the claim that the Ring of Fire is 'empty land.' Visible markers will send a clear message to both levels of government, he said. Bill 5 and Bill C-5 will open the door for governments to carve out special economic zones or designate projects that can bypass both environmental rules and the need for Indigenous consent. 'UNDRIP is broken. Free, prior, and informed consent is broken. The duty to consult is broken,' said Coleen Moonias, a spokesperson for Neskantaga First Nation. 'We must continue to fight together and be united.' At the heart of this dispute is the Ring of Fire, a vast mineral-rich region that provincial and federal governments see as key to Canada's ambitions as an 'international resource superpower.' Attawapiskat and Neskantaga are Cree and Oji-Cree First Nations located in the James Bay Lowlands. Both are members of the Mushkegowuk Council and have a long history of defending their lands and waterways from industrial development, including projects in the Ring of Fire region. The council, after seeing Kataquapit's efforts, helped turn his solo action into a larger movement. 'Anything that happens by the Ring of Fire will affect Attawapiskat itself, whether it's hydroelectric dams, whether it's any type of environmental contamination, will affect Attawapiskat. All water flows down,' Kataquapit said. The James Bay Lowlands is one of the world's largest untouched peatland areas. This area has vast wetlands, forests and rivers that provide important homes for woodland caribou, lake sturgeon and millions of migratory birds. People living along the Attawapiskat River, which flows 748 kilometres from Attawapiskat Lake, call themselves 'the water people,' as they care for the rivers, swamps and peatlands around them. Wetlands act as a carbon sink, helping to filter and clean the water that flows into the rivers. "They call it the swamp. They call us Swampy Cree people. So they have a purpose,' Michel Koostachin, a member of Attawapiskat First Nation. If protections are weakened, local First Nations fear mining could harm habitats and contaminate the water with industrial pollutants and toxins. "Industry comes and goes — whether it's dams, hydro or mining — but the people who don't come and go are the First Nations people," said Abram Benedict, Ontario regional chief for the Chiefs of Ontario. "When the land is desecrated, it's the First Nations people who are left to clean it up. There are no water pipelines running up into the north, and while there are many fresh bodies of water, it only takes one bad environmental disaster to contaminate them all. I don't blame people for wanting to protect the land." Neskantaga, located upriver, has endured Canada's longest-running boil water advisory — over 30 years. Attawapiskat has also faced on-and-off boil water advisories for years. Chapter 1 On the river Scroll down to continue Map showing Kataquapit's boat journey with his parents from Attawapiskat, with stops where the Muketei River meets the Attawapiskat River and at a final destination further inland. Along the route, they place markers to assert the land as Indigenous territory. Courtesy of Jeronimo Kataquapit. While allies organize rallies and lobby at Parliament Hill and Queen's Park, Kataquapit — a filmmaker and second-year geography and environmental management student at the University of Waterloo — is travelling with his parents and brother along the Attawapiskat River. 'We're out in what most people would consider the middle of nowhere—about 500 kilometres north of the nearest highway,' Kataquapit said. The trip came together just two weeks ago, after Kataquapit learned about federal Bill C-5, then known as the 'national interest' legislation. 'When I first heard of Bill C-5, I thought, 'Okay, this is it. They're going to come in and this is just going to completely stomp all over our race,'' he said. 'The Ring of Fire is coming, and we have to act.' Kataquapit pointed to Ontario's Bill 5 as clear evidence that the provincial government does not value meaningful input from Indigenous communities. He noted that the legislation was passed without consulting First Nations, undermining the duty to consult and weakening legal protections for Indigenous rights and the environment. 'The time for talking is over. Just look at Ontario's Bill 5. They showed us how much our words are worth to them,' he said. 'We have to go out on the land and get things started.' Kataquapit called his parents and told them he was clearing his summer. They immediately agreed, cancelling their own plans to join him on the river. He used his university funds to get started — fuel, supplies and gear. As word spread, donations began arriving from Attawapiskat, neighbouring First Nations and supporters online. Over the week, the community created family flags with handwritten messages like: 'Youth are for the land,' 'Youth want to protect the land' and 'We need to conserve the land and waters for future generations.' The family livestreams their journey on Facebook, using a Starlink internet connection powered by a generator set up on their boat. This allows them to share their trip in real time as they move along the river and make stops. 'I'm not waiting for anyone. We just need to get out there and start informing as many people as possible,' Kataquapit said. The journey upriver is tough, especially this time of year. Water levels are low, forcing them at times to get out and pull the boats through shallow stretches. His mother, Monique Edwards, said the family's connection to the land runs deep. 'We're people that go out on the land all the time. He's always been; even before he walked, we got him out on the land,' she said. Chapter 2 Long-term commitment Scroll down to continue As part of their journey, Kataquapit and his family live-stream from stops—day and evening—sharing moments of rest, reflection, and ceremony to assert their deep connection to the land. Screenshot from Jeronimo Kataquapit's Here We Stand Facebook page. The initial destination for the river journey was the confluence of the Muketei River and the main Attawapiskat River. Now they plan to go further, which involves a first stop at the Muketei River junction to plant the family flags and take videos on Friday, followed by a continuation further upriver to establish an encampment with Neskantaga First Nation and other Indigenous communities who have expressed interest in joining. Members of Attawapiskat and other First Nations are expected to join them by float plane at the encampment, possibly next Monday. Kataquapit said more than 30 people have already signed up for the float planes, and he expects more to join. He said all of this is being funded through donations and individuals' personal money. Kataquapit is documenting every step as the expedition's videographer, photographer and social media manager. He sees the fight against the bills as a long-term commitment, and is determined to remain on the land throughout the summer and fall — and if necessary into the winter. "Me and my parents, we're not going back to Attawapiskat. We're not going anywhere else until Bill 5 is withdrawn," he said. Edwards said she is reflecting on the connection she has with their ancestors as they travel through the same places along the river that have been used for millennia. That connection to the past shapes how the family approaches their boat journey today. 'We don't just come in, make our mark, and leave it at that,' Kataquapit said. 'We spread out the fires, gather every single piece of trash, and carry it with us the entire journey. A large part of why we're doing this trip is to reassert our presence and show what true stewardship looks like.' Chapter 3 The Ring of Fire: A central battleground Scroll down to continue The family's two boats, fully stocked with supplies as they prepare to camp out through the summer and into fall or winter in protest against the bills. Courtesy of Jeronimo Kataquapit. Kataquapit warns that if governments are allowed to bypass Indigenous rights here, it sets a dangerous precedent for Indigenous nations across Canada and globally. 'Everyone is looking at the Ring of Fire. If we manage to stop, if we stand our ground and say, 'This is where we're going to stand, right here, and we're not going to move,' and if we are successful, then I think that will set a really solid precedent for every other potential conflict with the federal and provincial governments across Canada,' he said. "These young people are making the stand. They're calling out peaceful protests, they're not blockading the road,' said Koostachin, who is also founder of Friends of Attawapiskat River, a coalition of community members and allies working to protect Attawapiskat, Neskantaga, and other Treaty 9 nations. Beyond peaceful demonstrations, legal action is also underway. Koostachin said Friends of Attawapiskat River are working closely with legal counsel from Legal Advocates for Nature's Defence and are committed to challenging the validity of Ontario's Bill 5 in court, arguing it violates Indigenous and treaty rights. He said that a First Nation — yet to be publicly named — is expected to lead the legal action, with Friends of Attawapiskat River and other First Nations communities prepared to intervene and submit arguments stating breaches of Indigenous, treaty and Aboriginal rights, as well as violations of UNDRIP. Similar legal challenges are anticipated if Bill C-5 is enacted at the federal level. 'The region is the last pristine land in northern Ontario,' said Koostachin. 'There will be no bulldozing across the Attawapiskat River without our consent. Our people will stand together and stand strong.' 'We're not environmental radicals. We're the stewards of the land ... we're not protesters, we're protectors.' Sonal Gupta / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer All photos and video footage provided by Jeronimo Kataquapit, who is a filmmaker documenting his family's boat journey in opposition to Bill 5 and C-5. Compiled and edited by Sonal Gupta. Related content One in four Canadians say they were affected by extreme weather in last year: poll Carney's controversial major projects bill clears committee Carney steered the G7 through the 'diplomatic Rockies,' says expert
Hamilton Spectator
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
First Nations call on Carney to deliver on clean water and housing in first 100 days
Prime Minister Mark Carney's government faces its first major test on Indigenous infrastructure when Parliament resumes — First Nations leaders are demanding reintroduction of stalled water legislation and new investments in community-led housing within the first 100 days. Senator Paul Prosper, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, and other First Nations leaders unveiled seven 'Canada Strong' priorities in Ottawa this week. They identified clean water and housing as urgent areas for immediate federal action, among other priorities for economic development and fisheries management. Indigenous Services Canada has issued 32 long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities. Neskantaga First Nation has been under a boil water advisory for almost 30 years. In 2024, the former Liberal government introduced Bill C-61 to establish enforceable national standards for drinking water and wastewater, safeguard freshwater sources, and create a First Nations Water Commission. The bill died on the order paper when Parliament was dissolved for the election, and will have to be reintroduced if it is to become law. 'The promise of introduction of a bill to address long-standing drinking water issues is more than just a promise,' said Kerry Black, an assistant professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Calgary, during the press conference. 'It's a legal requirement embedded in the class action settlement.' Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, and Neskantaga First Nation filed a national class action lawsuit against the federal government, resulting in an $8-billion settlement and a legal commitment to modernize First Nations drinking water legislation, making reform a binding requirement of the settlement. 'Canada is a developed country, is a first- world country, and we shouldn't have our own people, the first peoples of this country, that don't have safe drinking water yet. There's something wrong with this picture,' said Myrle Ballard, a University of Manitoba professor and Anishinaabe scholar focused on Indigenous science and environmental issues. Beyond Bill C-61, the government is expected to make substantial investments in infrastructure and ongoing funding to support water treatment systems and personnel training. 'It's not just a one-time thing; it has to be an ongoing commitment,' Ballard said. Ken Coates, a professor of Indigenous governance at Yukon University, said that governments already have the authority and resources to upgrade drinking water systems, just as they routinely repair roads. Failing to fund those upgrades would be a clear sign Indigenous Peoples are not being treated equally, he said. Housing on reserves is still a crisis, according to the Assembly of First Nations report . Over 150,000 new homes are needed to address overcrowding, mould and deteriorating infrastructure. The previous Parliament's $4.3-billion Indigenous Housing Strategy has funded 74 projects so far, but thousands of families are still on waitlists. 'If we invest in First Nations to close the infrastructure and housing gap, we can propel ourselves from being at the bottom of the G7 countries to number one worldwide. I believe this represents a smart approach for Canada, investing in First Nations,' Woodhouse Nepinak said at the press conference. Housing experts say there is a disconnect between policy design and on-the-ground community needs, pointing to fragmented supply chains, gaps in infrastructure and lack of skilled trades. Leaders at the conference pressed for funding to flow directly to Indigenous-led housing projects. 'Prime Minister Carney has said that Canada must spend less and invest more, and First Nations-led solutions are exactly the kind of smart investment that delivers real returns in housing, jobs and long-term economic strength,' said Candace Larsen, executive director of One Bowl Housing Corporation, during the press conference. One Bowl, led by Missanabie Cree, Chapleau Anishinabeg, and Brunswick House First Nations in Ontario, builds modular homes from local timber. Since 2019, it has built 22 homes and sent 15 DIY kits to Kashechewan First Nation, where residents are trained to assemble energy-efficient houses suited for northern climates. The organization is also trying to build community capacity and self-sufficiency by involving local people in every stage of the housing process. Direct investment is needed not only in such housing projects, but also in capacity-building grants, streamlined approvals and technical support for First Nations communities, said Coates. Other priorities discussed include investing in Indigenous-led economic development initiatives, finalizing overdue disability income support for Mi'kmaw communities, expediting self-government fiscal negotiations and launching the external review into DFO's treatment of Mi'kmaw fishers. As Parliament prepares to open on May 26, the government's response to these priorities will be closely watched by First Nations leaders. 'The path to a stronger Canada runs through real partnership with First Nations Peoples. That means funding First Nations-led solutions with the same urgency and the same seriousness that we give to every other national priority,' Larsen said. Sonal Gupta / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer
