The Chief and Council of Sachigo Lake First Nation, a Treaty 9 signatory and sovereign nation, want to express our serious concerns and formal rejection of Ontario’s Bill 5 – The Northern Ontario Critical Minerals Strategy Act and all associated activities that authorize mineral exploration on our lands without our Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.
No Consent, No Access
Let it be known: Sachigo Lake First Nation has not been consulted or given consent for mineral staking, exploration, or development under the Bill 5 framework or other mining-related permits affecting our homelands.
Any further actions taken by the Crown or industry without our consent are considered unlawful, illegitimate, and an act of trespass under both Canadian and international law (including UNDRIP, which Canada has adopted into federal legislation).
Bill 5 Represents a Colonial Continuation
Bill 5 prioritizes resource extraction and corporate access to Indigenous territories while excluding First Nations from meaningful decision-making. It is a modern-day continuation of colonial land dispossession, undermining our governance systems and sacred relationship with the land.
In Solidarity with Other Nations
We stand in firm solidarity with:
- The First Nations of the Ring of Fire, who have consistently defended their lands from unwanted development.
- Treaty 9 Nations who are pushing for a re-examination of Treaty promises and the imposition of Crown interpretations.
- The growing movement of Indigenous Nations across Ontario who are asserting environmental and territorial jurisdiction and rejecting the “approval-first, consult-later” model.
Sachigo Lake First Nation Will:
- Assert our own Land Governance Protocols and Jurisdiction over all resource activity on our traditional lands.
- Refuse all mining exploration or development permits that have not followed our consent process.
- Collaborate with other Nations to pursue legal, political, and international actions.
- Engage our citizens to protect and steward the land for future generations.
Our Position Is Clear
The Governments of Ontario and Canada must recognize that:
You do not have the right to access or develop our lands without our explicit permission.
We call for an immediate halt to all Crown authorizations on Sachigo Lake First Nation lands under Bill 5, and a formal engagement process with our Nation built on respect, recognition, and consent.
We are prepared to meet, discuss, and determine a new path forward—but only one that honours our Treaty, our sovereignty, and our laws.