Two chiefs angered over Noront's Ring of Fire deal

Matawa First Nations’ opposition to the sale of the Cliffs Natural Resources’ chromite deposits in the Ring of Fire to Noront Resources has spread into the boardroom of a Toronto law firm.

In an April 10 news release, Interim Chief Bruce Achneepineskum of Marten Falls First Nation and Chief Sonny Gagnon of Aroland First Nation announced they were huddling with their advisors at an undisclosed Bay Street law office to “review the status” of the Noront acquisition.

The March 23 announcement by Noront Resources that it was in the process of acquiring the chromite properties from Cliffs raised a furor among the First Nation communities closest to the mineral deposits. They accused Noront of driving its own agenda, rather than working with the communities, and accused Cliffs of failing in its duty to consult with First Nations before selling off the properties.

The chiefs say they want a community-based process that creates environmental safeguards and economic opportunities “driven by their community members, not just industry plans.”

The chiefs claimed they were informed of the deal at the same time as they were being told that the province had set an April 1 deadline for a decision on the next step in Noront's environmental assessment for its Eagle’s Nest nickel mine in the region.

In a statement, Gagnon threatened that no minerals will leave their traditional lands without “free, prior and informed consent.”

“With Noront’s announcement that it is trying to acquire the Cliffs assets, our First Nations have effectively been denied a real opportunity to benefit from key resources in our lands on our terms,” said Gagnon. “This unilateral move by Noront is unacceptable to our First Nations.”

“We oppose this old way of thinking about mining and trampling on First Nation rights,” said Achneepineskum. “The world has changed. Progressive mining companies are inclusive, share resources equitably with indigenous peoples, and know that only real partnerships protect our rights, interests and environment.

“Those are the mining companies we will invite to work with us in our territories.”

In late March, Noront announced it had signed a US $20-million deal with Cliffs to acquire the Ohio miner’s claims in the James Bay region backed with by loan from Franco Nevada Corp.

The transaction includes a 100-per-cent interest in the Black Thor and the Black Label chromite deposits, a 70-per-cent interest in the Big Daddy chromite deposit and an 85-per-cent interest in the McFauld's Lake copper zinc resource.

Once the transaction closes in mid-April, Noront will hold around 360 mining claims, or roughly 80,000 hectares of the dormant mining camp, 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.