This article was first published by TorontoToday, a Village Media publication.
On the north lawn of Queen’s Park on Thursday morning about ten tents were clustered, while a handful of Indigenous people sat in a circle around a fire.
The tents, a makeshift “occupation,” were set up on Wednesday after the passage of Bill 5, said Gary Wassaykeesic, who slept there overnight and is from the Mishkeegogamang First Nation in northern Ontario.
The legislation gives the province the power to designate “special economic zones” and allow certain exemptions from provincial laws and regulations, such as environmental assessments or consultation with Indigenous communities, with the aim of speeding up economic development.
It has faced considerable opposition from First Nations and environmentalists, who argued it could be used to violate treaty rights, put sacred Indigenous sites at risk and weaken protection for endangered species.
Wassaykeesic, whose First Nation is located near the mineral-rich Ring of Fire, said he is concerned the new rules will be used to speed up mining projects which he said will predominantly benefit the companies — not locals.
He said the legislation is yet another example of “economic genocide” of First Nations people.
Government invoked Trump threat to pass legislation
Premier Doug Ford has said the new rules are necessary to speed up large economic projects like mines, in light of President Donald Trump’s trade war.
But Crissy Isaacs, a member of Grassy Narrows First Nation, told TorontoToday on Thursday that she barely knew how to respond to that justification, calling it "ridiculous."
Isaacs, who also joined the encampment last night, said that for many years, the provincial government has run roughshod over the rights of her First Nation.
A 2022 study found an estimated 90 per cent of the population of Grassy Narrows have symptoms of mercury poisoning as a result of the nearby English-Wabigoon River being used as a dumping ground beginning in the 1960s.
Grassy Narrows First Nation has also argued the province’s Mining Act violates their constitutional rights and has taken the government to court over the legislation.
Yesterday when Bill 5 was passed, Isaacs was in attendance in the Queen’s Park gallery.
“I stood up and told them ‘Shame on you,’ and I let them know that I’ll be there to stop them from coming into our territories,” she said.
On Wednesday, as the legislation was nearing passage, Wassaykeesic said a number of Indigenous people began to discuss the idea of setting up the tent protest at Queen’s Park.
‘Anger and rage’
Wet'suwet'en land defender Eve Saint, who also slept there overnight, said the new legislation has struck a chord with Indigenous people.
“I see all over my social media, its posts of anger and rage,” said Saint, who now lives in Toronto.
She said the effort to speed up development is of great concern to many First Nations, who have seen their lands clear cut, mined or extracted over the decades.
Province promises consultation
As the bill was nearing a vote in the midst of First Nations’ frustration over a lack of consultation, the provincial government said it would engage with “Indigenous partners” over the summer about the legislation.
However, Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler and Chiefs of Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict both said in statements at the time that this did not alleviate their concerns.
NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa, who criticized the government for a lack of consultation with Indigenous leaders on the bill, has warned it could lead to widespread protests and stand-offs.
Wassaykeesic told TorontoToday on Thursday that the absence of consultation on the legislation was insulting and offensive — and a motivating factor for staging the tent protest.
While Isaacs said she will leave tonight, Saint and Wassaykeesic said they are not sure how long they will remain.
Wassaykeesic said the protest is just the beginning of Indigenous opposition to the new legislation.
