Call to action to reassert Indigenous presence within the Ring of Fire

A filmmaker from Attawapiskat who has used drones to capture breathtaking footage of the vast James Bay lowlands aims to dispel any notion that birds and animals are the only living things inhabiting the Ring of Fire.

“We keep hearing government and industry saying that nobody uses the land up there anymore — so, according to them, developing the Ring of Fire should have minimal impact on First Nations,” said Jeronimo Kataquapit, who is spearheading a call to action entitled Here We Stand.

Kataquapit is inviting Indigenous residents and supporters to join him and his parents on a mission to plant community flags and tipi poles along the banks of the Attawapiskat River, to show this is, in fact, occupied Indigenous territory.

“We’re going to go up and down the river for maybe 20 kilometres on both sides from where the Muketei and Attawapiskat Rivers meet, leave a mark and make our presence known.”

He is hoping fellow community members of Attawapiskat and other Mushkegowuk Nations will join him and his family on this trip. That invitation has also been extended to Neskantaga First Nation, a community based on the shore of Attawapiskat Lake.

“We have to get as many people up the river as we possibly can,” said Kataquapit.

Here We Stand was announced in response to Ontario Bill 5, also called the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, which was passed in the provincial legislature last week as well as the proposed National Interest legislation which was announced at the end of May.

Both bills are designed to fast-track resource development by reducing environmental protections and placing emphasis on “consultation” instead of establishing partnerships and gaining consent from First Nations.

“Ontario’s Bill 5 and Canada’s proposed National Interest legislation are going to destroy the land, pollute the water, stomp all over our treaty rights, our inherent rights, our laws, and our ways of life,” said Kataquapit.

Mushkegowuk Council Grand Chief Leo Friday concurred, stating, “Our lands, water and future are being threatened, and the Ontario and Canada are introducing laws that violate our inherent Aboriginal and Treaty rights.”

Mushkegowuk is supporting the Here We Stand call to action.

Anyone wanting to join Kataquapit on this effort, to offer support or learn more about the call to action, can email Kataquapit at herewestand@grassroots2025.com.