Introduction This submission is intended to reflect the grassroots, community feedback on suggested changes to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). Matawa First Nations Management (MFNM) submitted a joint application for participant funding in the CEAA Expert Review with four Matawa member First Nations including: Constance Lake First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation, and Webequie First Nation. The goal of our work was to engage and educate community members about CEAA and how the process currently works as well as to collect feedback on the changes to the process community members would like to see. Scope of Work The original scope of work was to consist of in community open houses and small group meetings in our joint applicant First Nation communities. However, due to the many challenges we faced for this project, as discussed in a later section, the scope of work was modified in an attempt to engage and many people as possible in the limited time we had. Where possible, a wide demographic was solicited, with presentations made to high school youth, Elders and the communities at large where possible. This involved targeted outreach, open houses in community and actively solicited feedback. In order to educate Matawa community members about the current CEAA process works, an information package and presentation was developed. In addition, a survey was developed to capture information directly related to the CEAA Expert Panel discussion themes. In an attempt to reach out to a wider audience, the survey was put on survey monkey and advertised on our website and social media along with the information package. The survey was made available to all willing participants from member First Nations and MFNM employees. In-person surveys were submitted by staff to the online survey software to combine all feedback into a communal pool for review and presentation. Collected data was condensed into several key take-away points common among the majority of respondents, as well as noting significant deviations. The raw survey data is provided in Appendix A. Challenges Several challenges were noted by both MFNM Staff and Community Members. The largest challenge noted from every community participating in the project was the timeline of the initiative. Late summer and fall are commonly harvesting and hunting seasons, with Moose and Firewood being particularly vital to the remote communities of North Ontario. As was noted by a Matawa community member during the presentations to the Panel in Thunder Bay on November 15th, while the opportunity to provide feedback is appreciated, having to take time away from moose hunting and harvesting could have very real impacts on the amount of food available in community households. Greater sensitivity and appreciation of the seasonal

requirements of First Nations Communities would be helpful in increasing the number of individuals who can take time away to participate and provide feedback. This difficulty was again present in the scheduling of community visits. In addition to the previously mentioned constraints, the late fall early winter period is commonly very busy with community gatherings, out of community meetings and travel. Attempting to coordinate with community contacts to find a suitable block of time to engage with different community groups was in many cases difficult, as there was little free time available in community. Where a community outreach session was not possible by Four Rivers Staff, the online survey was made available and background information was provided. Description of Matawa First Nations Management MFNM is a tribal council of nine Ojibway, Oji-Cree, and Cree First Nations that is based out of Ginoogaming First Nations and with a satellite office in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Four Rivers, Matawa’s Environmental Services Group has been mandated to build environmental capacity within Matawa First Nations. In order to support this mandate Four Rivers has undertaken and completed multiple projects to assess, improve and protect the natural environment surrounding our First Nations Communities while training community members in Environmental Sciences and Stewardship. Environmental Setting of the Matawa Homelands The area encompassed within the Matawa First Nations Traditional Homelands is vast and extends from the Northern shore of lake Superior past the Winisk River and East of Hearst to North Caribou Lake. It covers areas designated as James Bay Lowlands Ecoregion within the Hudson Plain Ecozone, Big Trout Lake Ecoregion within the Boreal Shield Ecozone, and Lake Nipigon Ecoregion within the Boreal Shield Ecozone. Much of the Matawa Traditional Territory contains both open and treed muskeg, as well as large unbroken portions of Boreal Forest. The vast areas is relatively untouched by developments. Also located within this area is the region known as the "Ring of Fire" which is expected to experience extensive development over the coming years. The prevalence of impending resource development projects in the region has led to a high degree of interest in the environmental assessment process as impacts to these regions would have far reaching effects to many communities and animal species, including many designated as at risk either Federally or Provincially. Joint Applicants First Nations for the Participant Funding Constance Lake First Nation

Constance Lake First nation is a progressive and rapidly growing community of 1,470 Members of Ojibway and Cree ancestry with approximately 820 living on reserve. Located on the scenic shores of Constance Lake near Hearst, Ontario it is readily accessible by way of Highway 11. Reserve lands are 7,686 acres (3,110 hectares) in size. Local wildlife is abundant and includes moose, rabbit, beaver, muskrat, mink, marten and lynx and an abundance of fish

including pike, trout, whitefish, pickerel and perch populate our many lakes, rivers and streams. Large stands of birch, poplar, jack pine and cedar can be found throughout the area.

Ginoogaming First Nation

Ginoogaming First Nation (formerly the Long Lake 77 First Nation) is a small Anishnawbe (Ojibway) First Nation located in Northern Ontario, located approximately 40 km east of Geraldton, Ontario, Canada, on the northern shore of Long Lake, immediately south of the community of Longlac, Ontario. As of Septemeber, 2006, total registered population was 773 people, of which 168 reside on-reserve. The community is within the boundaries of the territory described by the James Bay Treat of 1905 – Treaty No. 9. The Long Lake reserve was officially created when the Band signed an adhesion to Treaty no. 9 on August 9, 1906, although the Band had long been resident in the area.

Neskantaga First Nation

Neskantaga First Nation is a remote Oji-Cree First Nation located on Attawapiskat Lake in the District of Kenora, 280 km north of Geraldton, 180 km northeast of Pickle Lake, and 271 km northeast of Thunder Bay. The First Nation can be accessed fly-in or by winter roads. Neskantaga First Nation is a signatory to Treaty 9 (originally as part of the Fort Hope Band) and reserve lands total 831.50 hectares (2,054.7 acres). As of November 2011, there is a total registered population of 414 people, of whom 304 people live on their own reserve.

Webequie First Nation

Webequie is located on the northern peninsula of Eastwood Island on the Winisk Lake, 540 kilometers north of the city of Thunder Bay, or 450 kilometers north of the town of Sioux Lookout in the Unorganized Kenora District. Access is only by air or a seasonal winter road. The First Nation reserve lands total 34,279 ha. The registered population of Webequie was 1320 persons in September 2015, of which the on-reserve population was over 900.

Community Member Commentary The following were taken from the ‘Additional Comments’ section of the surveys, or from verbal feedback and conversations with community members. Responses have been kept anonymous. “Community involvement though extended outreach in community 7 schools is important” “They should talk to the community more, the community should have a say”

“Very compact survey, well done. The roles (6) in which parties can be involved is difficult to determine. Presenter should give a briefing over responsibilities of parties to help [be familiar with] party background” “If there is any kind of project that is getting the green light. Someday I hope ‘they’ will do what ‘they’ are proposing to do int the area known as the Ring of Fire’. This [regional] EA, I mean.” “All work or process must be funded by the government” “Documents should be translated (esp for Elders)” “More meetings to get youth involved and also to have the council to attend in those meetings have a ticked draw-to have prizes, another way to get youth involved.” “Ring of Fire needs to minimize any danger to the land and its workers.” “An electronic copy of survey should be made available for the youth online. There is a lack of youth participation in presentations like this one, a survey person should be hired to translate from English to local language for the elders to understand more. ex; visit elders to do survey individually or as a couple” “Next step should be EA 101, prove all communities with EA write-up and then ask about EA’s again. Get the people this paper and relevant information before asking questions on a topic very little know about is not good process.” “One Heart. That is how we need to approach this from the same place, as a group. All of us with the same focus and mindset. One Heart.” “No mining where there is too much water. You can’t contain the chemicals. Eventually a plant or animal will pick up the chemical. When you abuse plants and animals in ways like this, it comes back to you.” “There are unknown species in the “Ring of Fire” area. I have looked in every wildlife book I have even come across for a bird I have observed and I have not seen this particular bird documented. There is likely other undocumented species too.” “We have to take care of the environment together. One heart – Love, Kindness, Respect without conditions” “We want to work with scientists” “Women are the water keepers.” “I don’t understand what you are talking about. So I cannot provide valuable feedback. A document translated into syllabics and with visual aids would be helpful for elders.”

“First Nations roles should include: assessment the environment where development happens; environmental monitoring; and, spiritual ceremonies to purify the environment.” “Indigenous knowledge is science. It included feeling energy and vibrations. Indigenous knowledge has often been proven right in the past. Indigenous knowledge and wisdom are needed to sustain the environment and this needs to acknowledged” “More time needs to be spent working together planning major developments. We need to work together to find a solution that is acceptable to all” “People near mines need to know what toxins will be released. They need to be aware of the impacts these toxins will have on plants, animals and water. Only if they are aware of the impacts will they be able to avoid ingesting the toxins themselves.” “Not much information gets to community members. Council does not come back and inform us of the decisions they have made.” “A community’s views are not always the same as the councilors that are making

decisions.”

“We need more information” “A picture is worth a thousand words and is common means of communicating. Use visuals whenever possible” “There is a lot of confusion between the First nations involved in the “Ring of Fire” about where the development is at. The First Nations are fighting over resources” “Regular scheduled in community meetings should be held by council to update community members on decisions made and status on all developments.” “Presentations should be made to students in school to educate them about future developments because they will be the people who have to live with the outcomes. They are our future.” “This information on environmental assessment needs to be brought to the youth” “Better if local translators can be used because dialects vary by community.” “In 1960, there were no motorized vehicles. You would hear owls howl. The elders before me would know what the weather was going to be based on the sound of the owl. In 1980, after planes started to fly into the community, you could no longer hear the owls. The owl moved away from the noise. That is how afraid animals are of development. It is likely other animals have or will behave in a similar way. There is

not quietness in the community any more and more development will make it worse. It will scare the animals and cause them to move further away.” “The third law, natural law, needs to be incorporated into environmental assessments. What happens to the land happens to us” “We need to understand and be fully informed before we decide for our children and grandchildren” Summary of Survey Findings The following is a brief discussion of the overall findings to each survey question proposed to community members. For full results see Appendix A.

Question Posed Majority Response What should be the goal of An Environmental Assessment

A combination of Focus on Alternatives, Significant effects, and Sustainability

What should cause an EA to be done?

A combination of Proposal, decision, and effects based triggers.

After an EA is done, what should be the outcomes?

The EA places legal limits on the decision but is not the only basis of the decision.

Who should plan an EA/Who should decide what an EA needs to include?

Predominant answer was First Nations should have most involvement, Proponents the least.

Who should conduct the EA/who should do the EA studies?

Tie between Experts and First Nations, Environmental Organizations ranked 2nd highest. Proponent ranked last.

What role should each party play in an Environmental Assessment?

Planning: First Nations & Environmental Organizations Baseline collection: Experts Data Analysis: Experts Decision Making: First Nations Enforcement: Government and First Nations Monitoring: First Nations Corrective actions: Government & Experts Communications with First Nations: Government Collecting TEK: First Nations

How do you want to be part of the EA process?

Communications and timelines that accommodate Indigenous practices and allow sufficient time for community engagement and understanding (not just leadership)

What capacities do you require to better participate in EAs?

More outreach at Community Level First Nation Protocols developed and followed.

How can UNDRIP Article 32 be incorporated into EA processes?

Indigenous communities to undertake land use assessments to identify priorities and strategies.

mailto:lmikkelsen@matawa.on.ca

Appendix A – Raw Data. The following are the totaled results from the survey software, compiling all respondent’s surveys.