What’s at Stake
The Ontario government is poised to approve a number of mineral exploration permits in an area known as the “Ring of Fire” that will directly impact the health and ability of future generations to exercise their Indigenous treaty rights, including rights to hunt, fish, and trap.
The “Ring of Fire” is the name given to a sizable mineral deposit located in Treaty 9 in the far north of Ontario. Crown Governments are pushing to develop the area, promising roads and jobs in exchange for the destruction of Indigenous lands and an ancient muskeg, which is one of largest in the world. With a proposed lifespan of over 100 years, the mining development will have direct impacts on the health and ability of future generations to exercise their treaty rights, including rights to hunt, fish, and trap.
The peatlands, or muskeg, of this region are also a globally significant carbon store – containing nearly 35 gigatons of carbon. Safeguarding the ancient peatlands of this region also means protecting the rights and interests of Indigenous community members who are already experiencing the impact of climate change on their way of life.
Together, the thousands of approved and pending claims for exploration in the Ring of Fire opens up lands within a region home to some 40,000 Indigenous peoples across 35 communities. Approval of these exploration activities would also open up the second largest peatland complex in the world, covering some 325,000 km2 which to date, remains largely undisturbed from industrial development.
Respecting Indigenous Voices
Calls for an immediate moratorium on all mineral exploration have been brought by Indigenous grassroots groups and First Nations including Attawapiskat, Fort Albany and Neskantaga. Neither moratorium has yet to be honoured and respected by Crown governments.
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- Respecting the call for a moratorium on mineral development in the Ring of Fire means:
Protecting the health of the thousands of streams in this region that flow into the Hudson and - James Bays, and the region’s major rivers – from the Albany to the Winisk and Ekwan rivers
Safeguarding the ancient peatlands of this region that have served as carbon sinks, cooling the whole earth for millennia - Upholding the rights and interests of Indigenous community members who are already experiencing climate impacts to their way of life
- Respecting the call for a moratorium on mineral development in the Ring of Fire means:
Until January 10, 2024, the province of Ontario was accepting public comment on the proposed mineral exploration permits.
Thank you to those who joined our campaign by sending in your comments. You can read our submission below.
To: David Nikkila, Mineral Development Office;George Pirie (Minister), Ministry of Mines
I am writing in response to 7 new proposed mineral exploration permits from the Ministry of Mines to be issued to Juno Corp. as posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO 019-8025; ERO 019-8028; ERO 019-8029; ERO 019-8030; ERO 019-8031; ERO 019-8033; ERO 019-8034).
These permits, if approved, would directly affect lands and waters which are dominantly peatlands, or muskeg. Muskeg acts like a sponge and there is limited visual delineation between water bodies. The muskeg is a place where ‘fish travel under the land’ – making use of tunnels that are carved into the peatlands. Rising out above the peatlands, are eskers: outcroppings of rock where lichen is abundant and that serve as calving grounds for boreal caribou, a listed at risk species.
Approval of these exploration activities would also open up the second largest peatland complex in the world, covering some 325,000 km2 which to date, remains largely undisturbed from industrial development. The peatlands, or muskeg, of this region are also a globally significant carbon store – containing nearly 35 gigatons of carbon.I am urging the province to reject these permits and:
- RESPECT calls for a moratorium on mineral development in the Ring of Fire by Indigenous grassroots groups and First Nations including Attawapiskat, Fort Albany and Neskantaga
- REQUIRE comprehensive protection plans for the region’s sensitive wetlands and watersheds are in place, based on the best available science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and reflects the global significance of the carbon rich Hudson Bay-James Bay Lowland, including the Attawapiskat, Kapiskau, Albany, Ekwan, Opinnagau and Winisk Rivers and the thousands of streams that flow into Hudson Bay and James Bay
- HONOUR treaty promises to share the land, to be honest, to be kind. Mining interests cannot continue to be prioritized over the health, lands, and natural laws of Indigenous communities. Living up to the promise of reconciliation means action is required to prevent further violations of Indigenous rights.
The ancient peatlands of this region continue to serve as significant carbon sinks and have been cooling the whole earth for millennia. Protecting the muskeg of the Hudson Bay-James Bay lowlands plays a critical role in mitigating global climate change. An immediate moratorium safeguards one of the few remaining intact boreal peatlands and protects both us and the generations that follow.