May 27, 2025

"To all investors and companies looking to invest in Ontario, we urge you to do your due diligence and speak directly to our First Nations. While both federal and provincial leaders claim Canada and Ontario to be ‘Open for business’ or to ‘Build, baby, build’, First Nations resources are not Ontario’s nor Canada’s resources, nor any other organization claiming to be rights holders, such as the Métis Nation of Ontario, to do as they wish or claim benefit and profit from. Only our First Nations can assure you that it is safe to invest in projects on our lands and should be consulted on anything that happens or is to happen on Treaty and Aboriginal Title territory,” states Grand Council Chief Debassige. “In addition to our inherent and treaty rights, our Aboriginal rights are further recognized and affirmed in Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and our self-determination is reaffirmed in international human rights frameworks like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."