First Nations youth from the Ring of Fire denied entry to Carneys First Nations summit

Jeronimo Kataquapit, a 21-year-old filmmaker and land protector who led a group of 20 youth from First Nations in northern Ontario was denied entry to a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and First Nation leaders from across the country. Kataquapit set up a camp on the Attawapiskat River to oppose the development in an area of northern Ontario called the Ring of Fire. The group didn’t try to force their way in but refused to leave the front of the building, saying they wanted to be heard inside. The youth, who arrived in Ottawa on Monday by bus, said they oppose all development on their lands. “ Does he feel good about what he’s doing to our land? Does he not care about us?” asked Courtney Paulmartin, 17, who was accompanied by her grandfather, Jack Linklater Sr. Youth from ring of fire are protesting at PM First Nation summit- they want in #cdnpoli #indigenous — Pabàmàdiz (@karynpugliese.bsky.social) 2025-07-17T15:59:44.378Z Paulmartin and the others are primarily concerned about two bills. Ontario’s Bill 5, which speeds up approvals for major projects in what Premier Doug Ford is calling “special economic zones,” and the federal one economy law, which promises to speed up approvals on energy projects and is the topic of discussion between government officials and chiefs at the meeting. Both of these laws allow governments to sidestep different pieces of legislation, mostly environmental, to allow a project to proceed. “This Ring of Fire will be dangerous. These bills they’re overriding our laws. They’re not asking us our permission.  I came here for Attawapiskat, to fight for my youth, my little sister, because this will be her future,” said Paulmartin. “We will not let them. We won’t.” Courtney Paulmartin with her grandfather Jack Linklater Sr., outside the summit in Gatineau, Que. Photo: Karyn Pugliese/APTN. Cameron Wesley, 16, from Attawapiskat, came with his mom, Cathy. ”We’re promised so many things, jobs for people… I go hunting on this land, fishing, camping, and they’re gonna destroy the land and it doesn’t sit right. It doesn’t sit right, right with me,” Cameron Wesley said. ”We have to look at our future generations, my children, my children’s children, and their children. What is the government going to eat after he destroys his land?  He thinks we’re stupid, but we’re not,” said Cathy Wesley. Kataquapit said he wanted to put pressure on the chiefs inside as well as the federal government. “Remember who you work for, for, remember who you represent,” said Kataquapit. “Our stories come from the land. Our history originates on the land. Our very spirit of who we are lives in the land, lives in the waters. “And to stand by and watch whoever comes into our home and does whatever they want—then everything our ancestors have fought for up to this moment would’ve been for nothing.” Read More:  Chiefs tell Canada summit should not be considered consultation according to leaked recording The Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak came out to meet the youth and brought them Kentucky Fried Chicken. “I don’t know why they won’t let you into the meeting, I’m sorry,” she told them. “It is the prime minister’s meeting, not ours. You would always be welcome in our meetings,” said Woodhouse Nepinak. Continue Reading