'Historic' meeting between northern First Nations and politicians wraps up in Timmins
Delegates from seven area First Nations and their Mushkegowuk Council met with the province's Indigenous affairs and environment ministers to discuss matters like treaty rights and the economic potential of the James Bay coast.
Little was disclosed about what was talked about in the meeting Friday, but Fort Albany Chief Robert Nakogee told CTV that he was pleased with the around four-hours of discussion.
He said the formation of a treaty round-table and environmental talks were top of mind.
"Don't forget the treaty that was signed in 1905 still exists today," Nakogee said in an interview.
"And of course what's been pushed here is always the environment. How are we going to approach— with (being) environmentally-friendly, of course, climate change happening also. How we're going to move forward on that."
Mushkegowuk Council has been working with the federal government to declare a national marine conservation area along the James Bay and Hudson Bays coasts, prompting further discussion about the economic potential of the natural resources in 'Treaty Nine' territory.
Ontario's Indigenous affairs minister Greg Rickford acknowledged that First Nations want to build stronger partnerships with federal and provincial governments and that this meeting was a symbol of a commitment to improving that relationship.
"Any time we can talk about legacy infrastructure, preserving and protecting important conservation principals and ... at least talking about responsible resource development, we're going to be involved in that discussion," said Rickford, also the province's minister of northern development and mines.
Media were told that a more detailed summary of the meeting's discussions will be released at a later time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Calgary police shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers dealt with a distraught individual. The incident lasted almost 20 hours.