Hodgson pitches major projects to First Nations as wildfires scorch communities

As Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson pitched First Nations chiefs in Ottawa Thursday on the federal government's major projects push, chiefs in Ontario and Quebec were scrambling to secure federal help for communities forced to evacuate due to wildfires.

One small northwestern Ontario community, Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, which is also known as Collins First Nation, has burned to the ground. Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict and Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige said the community is being left behind by Indigenous Services Canada because it isn't recognized by the federal government.

Anishinabek Nation has been fundraising on Collins First Nation's behalf. Chiefs and officials gathered in Ottawa this week for the Assembly of First Nations annual meeting are holding a blanket dance to raise money for the community.

"The province and feds did not listen to the pleas that the community expressed prior to their own forced self-evacuation," Debassige told chiefs in Ottawa on Thursday.

"However, if this community had waited for the official response, we would be recovering the bodies of children, of elders and the men and women of this community."

Fires have triggered evacuation orders in multiple First Nations communities in the region, including Lac La Croix First Nation, Whitesand First Nation, Gull Bay First Nation and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation.

Hodgson's message Thursday — that Canada's major projects push needs First Nations partners — got a skeptical reception from some chiefs in the audience.

"Today we see First Nations as builders, owners and partners in some of the most important energy, infrastructure and resource projects we have underway in this country," Hodgson told the chiefs earlier Thursday morning.

Reacting to Hodgson's speech, Cold Lake First Nations Chief Kelsey Jacko said "we will not allow our traditional territory to be treated as an underground garbage dump for multi-billion dollar oil companies."

"Reconciliation is not a buzzword to use while you fast-track pipelines behind our backs," he told the minister. "If you want to build through our territory, you face us directly as a sovereign government.

"How can you defend a framework where Cold Lake First Nation bears 100 per cent of the long-term environmental risks to our water tables while seeing zero per cent of the economic benefits?"

First Nations chiefs vowed at the annual meeting Wednesday to oppose any actions by federal and provincial governments to expedite major projects that would undermine their rights and environmental protections.

Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Chief Veronica Smith said recent federal moves to speed up major projects "have raised concerns among First Nations across Canada that efforts to expedite project approvals may undermine the meaningful implementation of free, prior and informed consent, treaty relationships, environmental stewardship responsibilities and nation-to-nation decision-making."

The Assembly of First Nations is a national advocacy body that takes its direction from some 630 First Nations chiefs through special and annual general assemblies.

Chiefs at this week's assembly have been debating 53 resolutions on various topics, including the state of First Nations child welfare, status rules under the Indian Act and calls for the Vatican to rescind a series of papal decrees.

Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Northern Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand also addressed the assembly Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2026.

By Alessia Passafiume | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.