SIOUX LOOKOUT – An organization representing 28 Northwestern Ontario First Nations has signed a $5.9 million agreement with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) related to its plans to develop a deep geological repository for nuclear waste in the Revell Lake area, near Ignace.
Chief Jeffrey Copenace of the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation shared images of the document on social media on Thursday, during the Grand Council Treaty #3 (GCT3) fall assembly in Sioux Lookout.
Copenace said he had "fiercely opposed" the agreement. which is dated Oct. 4 but was signed Thursday, according to an NWMO representative.
"This is the amount the Chiefs of Treaty 3 have agreed to sign off in exchange for regulatory development and planning to bury Nuclear Waste in Treaty 3 Territories," he wrote.
"Ogichidaa [Francis Kavanaugh] and the Chiefs say this is only a 'Relationship Document' but this is not accurate," he wrote in another post. "It is a project development/advancement memorandum of understanding."
The agreement covers the period 2022 to 2024, and includes a clause stating the it "does not provide or imply consent to the long-term management of used nuclear fuel in Treaty #3 Territory."
The agreement also includes a confidentiality clause stipulating it is not to be shared with the public without the consent of both parties.
"[W]hat is being hidden by both parties? Why are the Chiefs trying to keep this agreement a secret?” Copenace wrote.
Neither Copenace nor Grand Council Treaty #3 leadership could be reached for comment Thursday, during the ongoing fall assembly. An NWMO representative confirmed details of the agreement shared online were accurate.
In a statement, NWMO vice-president of site selection Lise Morton said the agreement was meant to support GCT3 First Nations in reviewing the agency's plans.
"The Learn More Agreement between Grand Council Treaty #3 and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) was developed following discussions over the past two years," she said.
"It is designed to support several initiatives, including their efforts to help ensure that their members have access to the information they need to develop an informed point of view about Canada’s plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel, and the potential for it to be hosted in the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area."
The agreement sets out the terms for GCT3 involvement in areas including project assessment, development and planning, and regulatory issues.
Copenace shared objections that, in his view, little of the funding in the agreement will directly benefit First Nations.
“Very little for our communities, but plenty of money for lawyers and consultants to negotiate," he wrote.
According to the document he shared, in its first year, the agreement would budget roughly $275,000 for a senior policy analyst, office manager, and interns for the GCT3 territorial planning unit; $48,000 for "community engagement on Nuclear 101"; $50,000 for land-based learning; roughly $440,000 for a GCT3 Guardians program; and over $1.6 million for Treaty #3 project assessment, development and planning, and regulatory agreement, among other items.
NWMO will provide $45,000 for community engagement in nuclear waste and site selection for year two of the agreement, and $141,000 for phase two of community engagement, according to the document.
“How is $141,000 going to hear all the voices of Treaty #3 Rights Holders who should be included in this discussion as our decision makers? How do we include our citizens, elders, youth and women with this little amount?” Copenance wrote. “How is less than $100,000 dedicated in total to learning about nuclear waste vs. the $1M committed to lawyers, consultants and nuclear experts?"
"[It] sounds like the Nuclear Waste Management Organization [is] providing money to Grand Council Treaty #3 to make sure that progress + commitments are guaranteed for project development proceeding in exchange for funding.” Copenance continued.
The agreement establishes that Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation will be the community leader, as their territory will be where the repository will be potentially built, if the Revell Lake location is selected in 2024.
Site selection is between the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area in Northwestern Ontario and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area in southern Ontario.
