Some 700 First Nation representatives, including Saugeen First Nation chief Randall Kahgee want Ontario’s antiquated mining laws updated.
That was the message they had during a peaceful demonstration at Queen’s Park earlier this week.
Chief Kahgee says the current issues revolves around the jailing of six Aboriginal activists last month over a land dispute north of Thunder Bay.
They were jailed after they ignored a court order to stay off disputed land where Toronto-based mining company Platinex plans to drill.
The protest came a day after the province awarded Platinex more than 29-thousand hectares of additional land in the area.
Kahgee says their point was to bring public awareness to the issues facing First Nations groups because of out-of-date laws.
Kahgee says there is a window of opportunity here to move forward and he’s hoping the province will take advantage and start dialogue with Saugeen First Nation.
He says although this issue is in Northern Ontario, there is an issue brewing at Saugeen First Nation.
He says the province is approving energy builds, both nuclear and renewable within the territory.
Chief Kahgee says there’s been no consultation with the province yet and it could parallel what has happened in Northern Ontario.
