Photo of members gathered around Thunder Spirit Drum inside the Ontario Legislature (Queen’s Park) in Toronto on May 22, 2025.
The Canadian Press reports: “Road, rail and mine blockades could be on the horizon, First Nations leaders said Monday [May 26], as they ratchet up pressure on the Ontario government to kill a proposed bill [Bill 5] that seeks to speed up large mining projects in the north.”
“The proposed law has sparked anger among First Nations, environmentalists and civil liberty groups who say the bill tramples rights and guts protections for endangered species.”
The article highlights: “The province is set to create so-called special economic zones that would suspend provincial and municipal laws for certain projects. [Ontario Premier Doug] Ford has said the province intends to declare the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario one such zone.”
NDP Member of Provincial Parliament Sol Mamakwa tells the Canadian Press he has heard about potential blockades of mines and roads from those in his riding of Kiiwetinoong, which includes the Ring of Fire region.
Video still of Sol Mamakwa speaking on Bill 5.
Grand Chief Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation has told CBC News: “There will be conflict on the ground, and those that oppose it will most likely end up in jail. That is where we’re heading.”
Photo of Chief Alvin Fiddler.
Grand Chief Fiddler has also highlighted: “This bill is an assault on our land and our people. Our people have been Subject to assault from colonial systems for a long time. The day will come when our young people say enough is enough. That day is today.”
And he has told the Canadian Press that young people are “willing to do anything” to protect the land.
Hannah Sewell, co-chair of Ontario’s First Nations Young People’s Council, says: “When First Nations defend the land, we are also protecting our non-Indigenous kin — this is about all of us.”
Video still of Hannah Sewell.
Amendments will not be enough
And while provincial Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford says, “We’ve put some amendments forward”, Grand Chief Fiddler has stated about the proposed legislation, “I think we’re beyond amendments, we’re beyond tinkering with this bill. They have to withdraw it, and we start over again.”
We continue to follow this.
Further reading: Ontario First Nations leaders warn of ‘conflict on the ground’ if controversial Bill 5 passes (CBC News, May 26, 2025).
