Ring of Fire Updates Weekly News Roundup

February 23 – March 1, 2021: Weekly News Roundup

This week, Neskantaga First Nation declared a State of Emergency as 6% of members living off-reserve contracted COVID-19. Moonias said four off-reserve members in Thunder Bay, all under the age of 40 — including his nephew — have died. Chief Moonias is asking for emergency housing so he can bring his members home where they will be safe. Meanwhile, Juno Corp, a privately held Canadian exploration company, and The Webequie First Nation have announced a MoU, which Chief Wabasse says formalizes collaboration for potential mining extraction in the Ring of Fire.

February 23, 2021 (Lake Superior News):

Neskantaga First Nation Declares of State of Emergency

“Neskantaga First Nation (NFN) Chief and Council have issued a declaration of state of emergency with respect to a large number of off-reserve members in Thunder Bay testing positive for COVID-19.” Read more here…

February 24, 2021 (APTN):

Neskantaga First Nation issues state of emergency for members off reserve

“The Neskantaga First Nation has declared a state of emergency because members living off reserve are contracting the COVID-19 virus. Neskantaga is a remote Oji-Cree community on Attawapiskat Lake approximately 430 kms north of Thunder Bay. According to Chief Christopher Moonias, it has less than 80 houses for the 479 residents.” Read more here…

February 24, 2021 (CBC):

‘Our people are tired’: Neskantaga declares state of emergency with 12 off-reserve members positive for COVID

Declaration calls for additional resources from Indigenous Services Canada

“A state of emergency has been declared by Neskantaga First Nation after a number of its members living off-reserve tested positive for COVID-19. Chief Chris Moonias says six per cent, or 12 of the 217 members living off-reserve, have tested positive for the virus. That includes one person in critical condition at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.” Read more here…

February 24, 2021 (TB News Watch):

Neskantaga declares state of emergency due to COVID-19 cases among members in Thunder Bay

According to Chief Chris Moonias, six per cent of off-reserve members have tested positive for COVID-19 in the city of Thunder Bay

“Neskantaga First Nation is declaring a state of emergency due to a large number of off-reserve members testing positive for COVID-19 in the city of Thunder Bay.” Read more here…

February 24, 2021 (The Globe and Mail):

COVID-19 outbreak prompts Neskantaga First Nation to declare a state of emergency

Unfortunately this article is behind a pay wall. If you have a subscription to the Globe and Mail, you can read it here…

February 25, 2021 (BayToday):

Environmental opposition to the Ring of Fire is growing

Toronto environmental law group joins voices calling for protection of Far North wetlands

“A Toronto-based legal group is throwing its support behind the opposition to development in the Ring of Fire mineral belt. The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA), whose clients are the Friends of the Attawapiskat River, is calling for an immediate moratorium on all mineral exploration and all mine-related development, including a halt to the environmental assessments underway for the proposed community, supply, and ore-haul access roads” Read more here…

February 25, 2021 (CKDR):

Sol Mamakwa Calling For Immediate Help For Neskantaga

“A COVID-19 State of Emergency has been declared in Neskantaga First Nation. The remote northern community is reporting an infection rate of 6 per cent of off-reserve members. Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says the COVID outbreak in Thunder Bay is threatening the community and the entire region.” Read more here...

February 27, 2021 (Red Deer Advocate):

‘We need this:’ Getting COVID-19 vaccine to remote and urban Indigenous populations

“Chief Chris Moonias looked into a web camera as he prepared to get a COVID-19 vaccine just after precious doses arrived in his northern Ontario community.’ Read more here…

February 27, 2021 (CTV News):

‘We need this:’ Getting COVID-19 vaccine to remote and urban Indigenous populations.

“Chief Chris Moonias looked into a web camera as he prepared to get a COVID-19 vaccine just after precious doses arrived in his northern Ontario community.” Read more here…

February 28, 2021 (The Chronicle Journal):

Mining set to blossom further in Northwest

“Thunder Bay is on the cusp of being the mining hub for Northwestern Ontario and that could result in 7,000 jobs in the Northwest at the peak of production between 2023 and 2028.” Read more here…

March 1, 2021 (Mining.com):

Webequie Nation, Juno ink MOU for Ring of Fire exploration

“The Webequie First Nation and Juno Corp have announced a new cooperation agreement to foster economic participation opportunities and advance exploration and potential mining partnerships in Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire.” Read more here…

March 1, 2021 (TB News Watch):

Webequie First Nation signs MOU with Ring of Fire mineral exploration firm

Juno Corporation is the largest claim holder in the Ring of Fire

“Webequie First Nation and Juno Corporation have announced a new cooperation agreement to advance exploration in Northwestern Ontario’s Ring of Fire mineral zone. In an announcement Monday, Chief Cornelius Wabasse described a Memorandum of Understanding with the company as “an economic milestone” for his community.

“We are a community that believes in self-determination and pursuing collaborative alliances with the right government and business partners. This MOU brings us one step closer to securing new employment, training, business prospects and ongoing consultations as mining develops in our traditional territory,” Wabasse said.” Read more here…

March 1, 2021 (Northern Ontario Business):

Ring of Fire’s largest claim holder inks First Nation cooperation agreement

Juno Corp. signs memorandum of understanding with Webequie First Nation

“A prominent junior mining company in the Ring of Fire, not named Noront Resources, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Webequie First Nation, the closest community to the Far North exploration camp. Privately-held and low-key Juno Corp. inked the MoU in the Far North community on Feb. 24 between Chief Cornelius Wabasse and company president-COO Jacob McKinnon.” Read more here…

March 1, 2021 (Timmins Today):

Ring of Fire’s largest claim holder inks First Nation cooperation agreement

Juno Corp. signs memorandum of understanding with Webequie First Nation

“A prominent junior mining company in the Ring of Fire, not named Noront Resources, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Webequie First Nation, the closest community to the Far North exploration camp.” Read more here…

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