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Transcript

National Indigenous News September 17 · National Indigenous Newscasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: This is a look at your National Indigenous News.
• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Daryl Stranger.
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  SPEAKER_00: Nishkaniga First Nation in Ontario is warning governments, mining companies, and investors that proposed Ring of Fire development does not have its consent.
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  SPEAKER_00: The First Nation says the Martin Falls Community Access Road, Webacquay Supply Road, and proposed Northern Road Link must be assessed as parts of a larger industrial corridor, not simply as separate transportation projects.
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  SPEAKER_00: Nishkandiga has emphasized that it respects neighboring First Nations seeking all-season road access.
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  SPEAKER_00: Its principal concern is that the Northern Road Link would cross the Atawapascat River and affect Nishkandiga's homelands, waters, and treaty rights.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: The Northern Road Link has not received final project approval, and no individual road approval automatically authorizes a mine.
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  SPEAKER_00: Nishkandiga also argues that the wider ring of fire regional assessment should be completed before governments create conditions that make large-scale mineral development appear inevitable.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: Mining and energy projects in the Northwest Territories and Yukon got a boost this week at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto.
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  SPEAKER_00: Prime Minister Mark Carney organized and hosted the event, which brought together deep-pocketed investors from around the world to consider a slate of more than 160 projects across Canada.
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  SPEAKER_00: Carney boasted in a statement after the summit that it has unleashed nearly$500 billion in new investment commitments in the country, approximately half the$1 trillion goal he has set.
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  SPEAKER_00: Northwest Territory's Premier RJ Simpson said in a written statement that the North has an essential role to play in Canada's economic development.
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  SPEAKER_00: Yukon Premier Curry Dixon said he does not expect any immediate deals from the summit, but noted that his priorities matched the Prime Minister's agenda and that he expected the meeting would bring renewed interest to his territory.
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  SPEAKER_00: Honey Badger Silver's PC Silver Mine in the Northwest Territories was one of the five critical minerals projects being pitched by Simpson this week.
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  SPEAKER_00: Another Northwest Territories project highlighted at the summit was Lie FT Power's Yellowknife Lithium Project, which aims to develop a lithium ore mine in the territory in conjunction with a processing facility in Alberta.
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  SPEAKER_00: The Yukon government highlighted several mine projects in the territory, including Kudzikaya, Mactung Tungsten, Minto, Coffee Gold, and Casino, along with upgrades to the territory's energy infrastructure.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: Representatives from Nudavut, including Premier John Main, were also at the summit this week, seeking an injection of funds into critical infrastructure projects like the Grays Bay Port and Road and the territory's first ever connection to the North American electric grid.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: Bell Canada announced plans this week to quadruple the scale and capacity of an AI data center being built near Regina, bordering land owned by the George Gordon First Nation.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: The nation's chief, the province, and the company are all promoting the benefits the project will bring.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: George Gordon First Nation has partnered with Bell and the government on the massive project, which is scheduled to become operational next year.
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  SPEAKER_00: Bell says it will generate$12 billion of economic revenue for Saskatchewan.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: George Gordon First Nation chief Sean Longman said the expansion is a catalyst for broader development that could generate revenue, employment, and economic capacity for his nation.
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  SPEAKER_00: That could include much-needed roads, water, sewage, power, and other infrastructure, he said.
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  SPEAKER_00: Longman also said the project has potential to improve access to healthcare and education, and said the George Gordon First Nations relationship with Bell has been constructive so far, but did acknowledge a lack of consultation early on the project.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: Longman said George Gordon First Nation ultimately took the opportunity to help its people, believing the project was well engineered and least harmful to the environment.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: Early site preparation and construction has already begun.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: That's a look at your National Indigenous News.