Photo: Attawapiskat land and environmental defenders Ramon Kataquapit and Jeronimo Kataquapit in Ottawa, October 2026.
Peace Brigades International-Canada is attentive to the risk of criminalization for Indigenous land and environmental defenders opposed to the mining of their traditional territories in the “Ring of Fire” area of northern Ontario.
CBC News reports: “The Ontario government is considering changes to address what it calls ‘obstruction’ to economic development projects, raising concerns from Neskantaga First Nation about its right to defend its homelands.”
The Neskantaga First Nation says: “After the announcement of $1 billion of federal funding for the Ring of Fire access roads last week, [Ontario] Premier [Doug] Ford is sending an obvious message to Neskantaga and Attawapiskat that if we block their mining road, they will arrest us and send our people straight to jail.”
They add: “Colonialism never changes. Decade on decade, we are hunted down merely for occupying what has always been ours.”
Irina Ceric, an assistant professor of law at the University of Windsor, is quoted in the CBC News article commenting: “The province is now stepping in with this proposal that seems to suggest that it needs to be easier for police and the Crown to criminalize land defence, water defence and other sorts of assertions of Indigenous sovereignty and Indigenous governance. …It seems very clear that this proposal, despite the lack of detail, raises really significant concerns of potential overpolicing, of government overreach, that it may impact protests, land defence that is covered by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms or other human rights guarantees.”
Land defence encampment to block road construction
The “Shaykachiwikaan” (where the river meets the rocks) encampment is situated 90 kilometres downriver from Neskantaga on the Attawapiskat River on Neskantaga traditional territory in the southern tip of the Ring of Fire mining zone where one of the bridges for the Northern Road Link is to be built.
Construction on the Northern Road Link is scheduled to begin in 2028.
The Northern Road Link would connect the Marten Falls Community Access Road to the Webequie Supply Road in the McFaulds Lake area.
CBC News adds: “Construction has already begun on two roads — the Marten Falls Community Access Road and Webequie Supply Road — which are planned to eventually link the Ring of Fire to the provincial highway network.”
The Australian mining company Wyloo and the Canadian firm Juno Corp. are planning to mine in the McFaulds Lake area. Juno has noted: “With over 27,000 mineral claims covering in excess of 5,300 square kilometers, Juno is the largest mineral claim holder in both the Ring of Fire and the Province of Ontario.”
In December 2025, the Canadian Press reported: “Juno says it met with U.S. defence officials for the first time in May to discuss how titanium and vanadium can be used to fill aerospace supply chain gaps.”
Both titanium and vanadium are critical components used in the construction of Lockheed Martin F-35 combat aircraft.
Wyloo has also stated: “We’ve had initial discussions with the U.S. Department of Defense regarding the important role that northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire region will play in producing the critical minerals needed by Canada and the U.S.”
The Wyloo Eagle’s Nest project would produce high-grade nickel, copper and platinum, which are all listed as “materials of interest” by the Defense Logistics Agency, a combat support agency in the United States Department of War, that “manages the end-to-end global defense supply chain – from raw materials to end user disposition – for the five military services”. Nickel, copper and platinum are critical minerals also used in the production of F-35 combat aircraft.
Attentive to the rights of land defenders
Cree land defender Jeronimo Kataquapit has stated: “Ontario is considering new measures that raise serious concerns about freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, expanded police powers, and the protection of Indigenous and Treaty rights. These proposals could have consequences for Indigenous land defenders working to protect their lands, waters, and rights. Particularly within the Ring of Fire, Doug Ford’s government is looking to change the law to target Indigenous ‘protesters’ in the Ring of Fire. Those who protest on the road, development— and more will be open to immediate arrest.”
PBI-Canada remains attentive to the safety, security and holistic protection needs of Cree and Ojibwe land and environmental defenders opposed to Ring of Fire mining on their traditional territories in northern Ontario.
Further reading
–Neskantaga and Attawapiskat land defenders building village to protect sacred sites and block road construction to Ring of Fire mine in Ontario (PBI-Canada, November 6, 2025)
–PBI-Canada attentive to Neskantaga opposition to the Eagle’s Nest mining project in the Ring of Fire area of northern Ontario (October 30, 2025)
–Indigenous communities present to UN Special Rapporteur on the right to water about the threat of Ring of Fire mining (PBI-Canada, April 9, 2024)
–Indigenous concerns grow as Ontario pursues mining in the ‘Ring of Fire’ area for electric car batteries (PBI-Canada, November 12, 2021).
