Indigenous friendship centre in the Sault organizes protest against new development laws

The Sault Ste. Marie Friendship took the unusual step of inviting people to come out and speak against development laws passed by Ontario and the federal government. “Urban Indigenous are a real population of people, and they don’t have anybody else to advocate and support them,” said Cathie Syrette, executive director of the centre. “They don’t even get their services from their own First Nations, so they have the friendship centre. “And we have to come together like this and advocate and support our people.” Both laws promise to speed up development projects that are deemed vital to the economy. Both Bill 5, passed by Premier Doug Ford, and Bill C-5, passed by Prime Minister Mark Carney, allow the governments to bypass established laws – mainly environmental protections – to get projects moving. The centre also brought people in for the protest. “I think it’s really getting everyone out here and getting engaged with the issue,” said Atreyu Lewis, who was also camped out at the Ontario legislature in Toronto this past summer.”I’m grateful to be flown out here with the IFC [Indigenous friendship centre]. “I think it’s great engaging, gets people talking, gets people motivated and I hope to educate more while I’m here.” Ontario’s Bill 5 also allows the government create “special economic zones” where municipal laws can also be brushed to the side. The province will also be allowed to ignore animal protection laws. “These lands are protected by treaties that go back further than my grandparents,” said Carson Kiyoshk. ”I find it hard to believe that they can do something like this and push this stuff on to these areas.” Both the province and federal government have their sights set on an area called the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario. Rich with much sought after minerals, governments are prepared to put millions into developing infrastructure to start the mining process. On Sept. 5, the federal government announced $1 million to “support mining innovation in Northern Ontario.” “We need to be heard and something needs to be done about this bill because it’s only going to cause more harm to our land and our animals and our rights,” said Chad Mckay. “I’m really looking forward to seeing more people come together in protest and our leaders stand up and use their voice to make sure that they inspire everyone to come together.” The federal government has been largely criticized by First Nations leaders for not consulting them on the legislation. At the Assembly of First Nations annual gathering, chiefs voted down two resolutions that would have directed Ottawa to fast track First Nation project. The resolutions were rejected because leaders felt that passing them would have amounted to endorsing the federal law. Continue Reading