Matawa Chiefs mull legal route on Ring of Fire properties sale.

• Position: NEWS - Matawa First Nations

Matawa First Nations' opposition to the sale of the Cliffs Natural Resources' chromite deposits in the Ring of Fire, to Noront Resources, has spread into the boardroom of a Toronto law firm.

In an April 10 news release, Interim Chief Bruce Achneepineskum of Marten Falls First Nation and Chief Sonny Gagnon of Aroland First Nation announced they were huddling with their advisors at an undisclosed Bay Street law office to "review the status" of the Noront acquisition.

The March 23 announcement by Noront Resources that it was in the process of acquiring the chromite properties from Cliffs raised a furor among the First Nation communities closest to the mineral deposits. They accused Noront of driving its own agenda, rather than working with the communities, and accused Cliffs of failing in its duty to consult with First Nations before selling off the properties.

The chiefs say they want a community-based process that creates environmental safeguards and economic opportunities "driven by their community members, not just industry plans."

The chiefs claimed they were informed of the deal at the same time as they were being told that the province had set an April 1 deadline for a decision on the next step in Noront's environmental assessment for its Eagle's Nest nickel mine in the region.

In a statement, Gagnon threatened that no minerals will leave their traditional lands without "free, prior and informed consent."

"With Noront's announcement that it is trying to acquire the Cliffs assets, our First Nations...