Council calls for direct talks with Canada and Ontario that respect First Nations’ rights, governance and community priorities

OTTAWA — The Matawa Chiefs’ Council is calling on Canada and Ontario to put Indigenous rights, community readiness and lasting benefits for First Nations at the centre of Ring of Fire development.

The statement comes as First Nations leaders meet with first ministers in Ottawa on October 26, 2026. The Prime Minister’s Office scheduled the joint meeting for Monday morning.

The chiefs want a dedicated Crown–Matawa leadership table where federal, provincial and First Nations leaders can address the region’s future through processes led by First Nations.

“The Matawa member First Nations are not stakeholders in the Ring of Fire. We are the Inherent and Treaty rights holders where applicable,” the council said in its statement.

The chiefs say governments must recognize the leadership, priorities and governance protocols of Matawa’s nine distinct First Nations when making decisions affecting their homelands.

They also say the wealth expected from critical minerals within Matawa territories must create benefits that last for generations in the communities whose lands make development possible.

The council is calling for reconciliation that addresses economic, political and social conditions, as well as community well-being.

According to the statement, resources from James Bay Treaty No. 9 territory have supported Ontario’s economic growth for more than a century. Yet Matawa communities continue to face major gaps in housing, infrastructure, energy and social supports.

The chiefs say those needs must be addressed alongside major resource projects. They are also calling for meaningful participation in planning, with community readiness central to decisions about development.

“Any path forward must recognize our leadership, our priorities, and our role in shaping the future of our homelands,” the council said.

The statement extends that position beyond the Ring of Fire. The chiefs say the same respect for First Nations governance and protocols must apply to other proposed projects, including the Northern Shield Energy Corridor, wherever they affect Matawa member First Nations’ territories.

Matawa’s Chiefs Council brings together nine chiefs to address collective issues and provide direction to Matawa First Nations Management.

The release stresses that member First Nations remain sovereign and autonomous, with their own leadership guiding the council’s work.

It also includes a “without prejudice” notice, stating that the release does not affect the positions of individual First Nations or the council on specified matters. Those reservations cover:

• Any position Long Lake No. 58 First Nation takes or may take on its Treaty status, Aboriginal rights or title;
• Any member First Nation’s position on whether it is a party to a Treaty; and
• Any present or future legal challenges or statements of claim by Matawa member First Nations or the Matawa Chiefs’ Council.

The council’s call is for development decisions that respect those distinct positions while addressing the long-standing needs of communities.