First Nations Protest Against Legislative Bills in Ontario’s Ring of Fire – Startup Ecosystem Canada
June 27, 2025
Two First Nations, Attawapiskat and Neskantaga, have initiated a journey to establish an encampment near a proposed bridge in the Ring of Fire region in response to recently passed legislative bills. The bills, Bill C-5 at the federal level and Bill 5 at the provincial level, are designed to accelerate major projects, including mining, in special economic zones like the Ring of Fire. This legislation has faced strong opposition from First Nations, who argue it infringes on their rights and fails to consider their input. The Attawapiskat family, led by Jeronimo Kataquapit, is traveling over 400 kilometers by canoe to the site, marking their route with flags as a call to action for Indigenous rights and consultation. Neskantaga community members have prepared the encampment site and are ready to make a stand against the development proceeding without their consent. Both communities emphasize the sacredness of the Attawapiskat River, which they depend on for sustenance and consider a burial ground for ancestors. They demand that no development occurs without their free, prior, and informed consent.
