AN-MNDM Round Table 5

Home , Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, Nokiiwin Tribal Council, Red Rock Indian Band

Debenjiged gii’saan anishinaaben akiing giibi dgwon gaadeni mnidoo waadiziwin. Creator placed the Anishinaabe on the earth along with the gift of spirituality. Shkode, nibi, aki, noodin, giibi dgosdoonan wii naagdowendmang maanpii Shkagmigaang. Here on Mother Earth, there were gifts given to the Anishinaabe to look after, fire, water, earth and wind. Debenjiged gii miinaan gechtwaa wendaagog Anishinaaben waa naagdoonjin ninda niizhwaaswi kino maadwinan. The Creator also gave the Anishinaabe seven sacred gifts to guide them. They are: Zaagidwin, Debwewin, Mnaadendmowin, Nbwaakaawin, Dbaadendiziwin, Gwekwaadziwin miinwa Aakedhewin. Love, Truth, Respect, Wisdom, Humility, Honesty and Bravery. Debenjiged kiimiingona dedbinwe wi naagdowendiwin. Creator gave us sovereignty to govern ourselves. Ka mnaadendanaa gaabi zhiwebag miinwaa nango megwaa ezhwebag, miinwa geyaabi waa ni zhiwebag. We respect and honour the past, present and future.

(Preamble to the Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin – as adopted by the Grand Council in June 2011) ARMSTRONG

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Produced by the Union of Ontario Indians Lands & Resources Department. Any duplication of this document without prior written permission of the Union of Ontario Indians is prohibited.

For additional copies of this publication, please contact: Lands and Resources Department Union of Ontario Indians P.O. Box 711 North Bay, ON P1B 8J8 Tel: (705) 497-9127 Acknowledgements This round table summary report was funded by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. Photos are courtesy of the Anishinabek Nation. We thank all the Anishinabek community members and staff for participating, sharing their stories, and providing recommendations. Table of Contents

Purpose and Objective: 2

Table Discussion: 4

First Nation Caucus 4

AN-MNDM Round Table 5

Sites of Aboriginal Cultural Significance (SOACS) 6

Live Demonstration of CLAIMaps ...... 7

Summary 8 2

Purpose and Objectives:

The Anishinabek Nation (AN) - Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM), Northern Superior Regional Table (Table) took place January 17 and 18, 2018 in Thunder Bay Ontario. This was the fourth meeting of the Regional Table as a result of the implementation of a new regional engagement framework put in place by the AN. The Anishinabek Nation is divided into four regions, representatives of each member community of the Anishinabek Nation attend the Table corresponding to their Region. The purpose of this Table is to improve the ability of the Anishinabek communities and their members to engage with, and benefit from the development of minerals and mines in Anishinabek Territory. The Table meets quarterly and provides opportunities for information exchange, identification of issues of common concern, and development of solutions to challenges faced by Anishinabek communities in engaging with the minerals and mines sector. The Table is also a tool for relationship building in that it provides opportunities for Anishinabek community members to meet on a regular basis with MNDM staff and to exchange information and ideas. In this way, the Table also helps to improve accountability of all parties to one another through the establishment and tracking of action points that are reported on at the Table. The Table is attended by Anishinabek leaders, mining, minerals or economic development portfolio holders and technicians from the communities of the Region. The figure below denotes the Northern Superior Region of the Anishinabek Nation:

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40 401 The work of the Regional Table helps to support other elements of the relationship between the AN and MNDM. Issues identified at a Regional Table that are of a technical nature or those that may impact more than one region can be sent to the AN-MNDM Joint Advisory Council (Advisory Council), where a smaller group made up of representatives from all four Anishinabek Regions and the MNDM can focus on exploring options and recommending actions. The Table also provides an important link between localized communities and the AN-MNDM Bi-lateral Leadership Forum. The following figure depicts the relationship between the Regional Table and other bodies that constitute the institutional relationship between the AN and MNDM: 4

12 First Nation leaders, portfolio holders and technicians from the Northern Superior Region attended the Table. These Anishinabek representatives were joined at the Table by staff from the Lands and Resources Department of the Anishinabek Nation. The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines was represented by a number of staff.

The following are those who were in attendance at the Table:

Anishinabek Nation First Nation Participants: Brittany Moses – Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Hillary Nhiwatiwa– Long Lake # 58 First Nation Chief Duncan Michano Jr. – Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Jesse Gaudette – Pic Mobert First Nation Edward King - Binjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek Juanita Starr – Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Chief Edward Wawia – Red Rock Indian Band Kyle MacLaurin - Namaygoosisagagun First Nation Elizabeth Esquega – Fort William First Nation Richard Thompson - Binjitiwaabik Zaaging Erin Desjardins – Nokiiwin Tribal Council Anishinaabek Hannah Desmoulin – Pic Mobert First Nation

Non-Affiliated First Nation Anishinabek Nation Participant: Participants: Kyla Morriseau - Animbiigoo Zaagi igan Anishinaabek Cameron Welch, Policy Analyst Tammy Desmoulin, Program Coordinator

MNDM Participants: Brian Laine, Mineral Exploration and Development Consultant Melanie Mathieson, Senior Aboriginal Liaison Officer

First Nation Caucus

This meeting of the Table included a First Nation Caucus. During this Caucus, First Nation representatives discussed their relationships with MNDM and mining companies. They also received an update on the mining and minerals related activities of Anishinabek Nation staff as well as activities of the Bi-lateral Leadership Forum and the AN-MNDM Advisory Council. The Caucus provided an important opportunity for AN representatives to openly discuss a number of issues and share experiences with one another without the presence of the representatives of the MNDM. able D iscussion: T AN-MNDM Round Table

This meeting of the Table focused on preparing AN communities for the conversion to on-line staking and claim-management. The majority of the meeting centered on a live demonstration of CLAIMaps. MNDM staff started the meeting with a review of the Mining Act Modernization Process. able D iscussion: T

Figure 1 Slide from MNDM presentation showing timeline for Mining Act Modernization and the launch of on-line staking

Many AN representatives expressed dissatisfaction with proponents not being required to consult with First Nations until a Plan or Permit is applied for. AN representatives expressed concern over foreign entities staking their traditional territories without understanding First Nation worldviews and rights in Canada. MNDM positioned on-line staking as a potential opportunity for AN communities to engage in business with foreign proponents who may require services on their claims.

AN representatives stressed the need for a Treaty layer as a base layer on CLAIMaps. They positioned this layer as necessary for those making the claim to understand the rights held by First Nations within their areas that they are staking a mining claim on. There was further discussion of possibilities to connect information related to the Treaties and First Nation rights to the Treaty map 6

layer embedded in CLAIMaps. The Table suggested that the creation of such a Treaty layer should be a priority for MNDM as on-line staking is implemented. AN participants also expressed support for the idea of customizing Mining Land Administration System (MLAS) to focus on traditional territories of AN communities. One AN leader suggested that in order to make new claims more visible on MLAS, they appear on CLAIMaps or its replacement in a different color, say yellow, for a number of months so that the First Nation technician working in the MLAS system can quickly determine which claims on their territory are new. The discussion generated a number of questions asked by AN participants.

Question Posed by Anishinabek Response from MNDM Representative Representative Is it possible to work with software developers We are creating a new GIS Unit or to create specialized applications or tools for the Department within MNDM. Functionality AN? There is a lot of customization required. If requests from your communities may be

able D iscussion: we could bring in our own software engineers to possible.

T work with your engineers that would be useful.

Is CLAIMaps the new system? No. The MLAS system is still being developed but much of it will be similar to what we find currently in CLAIMaps.

What is going to happen with incidental cabins? We cannot withdraw staking from incidental There are a number of First Nations here and cabins. between us we have 120 incidental cabin applications and we want a 100 meter buffer around those cabins.

Sites of Aboriginal Cultural Significance (SOACS)

There was a substantial discussion around Sites of Aboriginal Cultural Significance and some confusion about the types of information that a First Nation must provide with a SOACS application. The Table determined that further clarification and discussion on the issue is needed at a future meeting of the Table. The Table also suggested that the issues related to information required for SOACS and potential access to that information through Freedom of Information requests be dealt with at the Joint Advisory Council level. These discussions were viewed as a priority issue by the Table. The following exchange between an AN leader and a MNDM staff member is illustrative of the conversation as it related to SOACS. Table Discussion: First Nation. significant, justthatitissignificanttothe do notneedtoexplainwhyasiteis over andagainthatFirstNations What aboutSOACS?Wehavebeentold Anishinabek Representative Question Posedby CLAIMaps. Toreviewthisdocumentpleasevisit: assist you in quicklybecoming familiar and proficientinsome ofthemore usefultools contained in AN staffdevelopedastep-by-stepguidetosomeoftheusefulfunctionsinCLAIMaps.This will once itisfullydeveloped. AN participantsattheTable stressedtheneedforadditionaltrainingon newMLASon-lineinterface at theAnishinabekNation1-(705)-497-9127. at theAnishinabekNation. If youareinterested in takingthetrainingpleasecontactTammyDesmoulin Copies ofthetrainingdocumentcanbeobtained bycontactingtheLandsandResourcesDepartment community to: and lookingatthetypesofinformationthatareavailableinCLAIMaps.CLAIMapscanassist your The Tablereceivedanoverview,ademonstrationofCLAIMaps,spenttimenavigatingCLAIMaps Live Demonstration of

CLAIMaps Provideinformationonabandonedminesites • Provideinformationonareasremovedfromstaking • Providegeologicalinformationaboutyourterritory • • Determinewhattypesofworkhavebeencompletedinyourterritoryandhowmuch Determinethenatureofclaimsinyourterritory • Locateinformationonminingclaimsandcompaniesinyourterritory • • http://www.anishinabek.ca/department s/land-and-resources/overview/ maps ofyourterritorythatyoucandigitallydrawandwriteontohelpcommunicate with yourowncommunity,neighbors,industryorgovernment.Thismapping function isusefulbeyondmappingapplications. assessment workhasbeendoneorisoutstanding has a handy mapping information inourfilesbecauseifsomeoneagrievance. your communitytogettheinformationbutweneedsome in thewithdrawalorder.TheSeniorAdvisorworkswith know whattypeofsiteitis.Wedonotpostthatinformation You needtohaveatleastoneofthose.MNDMneeds be excerptsfromplansordocumentsotherstudies. need testimonialfromanElder.Itcanbephotos. That isnottrue.MNDMneedssomeinformation…we Representative Response fromMND CLAIMaps function that can help you to make quick and easy

Summary:

This meeting of the Northern Superior Regional Table was a success. The lively and informative discussion and exchange of information was of value to both the AN and MNDM. The Table provided an excellent opportunity to increase the capacity of community-level technicians and AN leaders to use CLAIMaps. The questions and points of discussion are illustrative of the utility of the Table for improving relationships and understanding between the AN and MNDM.

Action Item Responsible Party(ies)

Provide training on MLAS and front end when available MNDM Define relationship between on-going land claims and staking MNDM/AN able D iscussion: of mining claims (Joint Advisory Council) T

Create a Treaty layer within MLAS and CLAIMaps and explore MNDM/AN (existing ON treaty map) opportunities to link information to the map

Depict newly made claims in a easily recognizable colour on MNDM CLAIMaps and MLAS to improve efficiency

Define MNDM GIS Unit and how it can assist AN MNDM

Develop a system for AN input in MNDM regulations AN/MNDM (Joint Advisory Council)

Topics for Future Discussion at the Table

Clarify SOACS application procedure and access to information

Work through the Values Mapping Project to determine which First Nations want notices on which territory or area

Development of information sharing agreements in terms of notices and responses within the AN (Values Mapping Project could help to facilitate discussion between communities, Roundtable could develop some sort of template to accomplish this and communicate it to AN)