Abstract
This presentation will focus on community engagement activities linked to road development in the Ring of Fire (RoF) in northern Ontario. Representatives of Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN) and Webequie First Nation (WFN) will share lessons learned from navigating in-person and online engagement activities with Indigenous communities and stakeholders as the proponents of three road projects: Marten Falls Community Access Road (CAR), Webequie Supply Road (WSR), and the Northern Road Link (NRL). MFFN and WFN and their advisors will speak to the opportunities and challenges they face with consultation and engagement for these projects. They will also elaborate on how they communicate mutual benefits and garner support for the projects.
MFFN and WFN are two remote communities located in Ontario’s Far North and near the RoF Area, which is rich in critical minerals. The two communities are leading the environmental and impact assessments for the CAR, WSR, and NRL projects. These roads will connect MFFN and WFN to the provincial highway network and to the rest of Ontario. They will also connect the two communities and the rest of Ontario to economic development opportunities in the RoF. In turn, these projects will offer transit linkages that will make goods and services more accessible to MFFN and WFN (and neighbouring communities), as well as facilitate community and regional development that will improve socio-economic conditions for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
The presentation will explore how MFFN and WFN have conveyed the socio-economic benefits of development to neighbouring Indigenous communities and key stakeholders. It will also examine how MFFN and WFN have responded to misinformation and dispelled misconceptions or misunderstandings about the projects. Overall, the presentation will provide insight into how MFFN and WFN have developed and delivered a robust consultation and engagement program that prioritizes reciprocity, collaboration, cooperation, and consistency in all communications with Indigenous communities and stakeholders.