Indigenous communities want a seat at the table with government leaders on tariff discussion

Tariffs and the trickle-down effect are being discussed at a three-day Anishinabek Nation lands and resources forum in North Bay.

A three-day forum in North Bay, Ont., is tackling the subject of the impact U.S. tariffs would have and the trickle-down effect they would have on the 39 Anishinabek Nations.

Indigenous leaders said Tuesday they need to be part of the conversations surrounding further tariffs that could be imposed on Canadian goods by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“A lot of our people in our communities don’t have the opportunities for economic prosperity,” Melvin Hardy, Northern Superior Regional Chief, told CTV News.

“We actually demand to be part of the process so we can ensure our livelihood is not threatened.”

Trump has already signed an executive order slapping a 25 per cent tax on all steel and aluminum, including from Canada, beginning March 4.

Canada is the top exporter of both metals to the U.S. and sells about $35 billion to American companies yearly.

Trump’s sweeping tariff on all other Canadian imports has been delayed until March 1 following a phone call he had with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who promised to bolster the border.

All 13 Canadian premiers and territorial leaders are in Washington, D.C., to present a unified front to their counterparts, other U.S. lawmakers and business leaders reminding them about the impact tariffs will have on both the American and Canadian economies -- and job losses that could follow.

Sells power to Michigan

“In my community, Ontario sells power to Michigan. So, those lines come right through my community,” said Anishinabek Nation Deputy Grand Council Chief Chris Plain.

Plain is the former chief of the Aamjiwnaang Nation, located near Sarnia, which borders Michigan.

“We need to know what impacts that may have in any terms of agreements of First Nations have with Ontario, or with the federal government and any type of energy projects,” he said.

Canadian business executives and labour leaders say that Trump is not joking when he talks about annexing Canada into the 51st U.S. state and that he wants access to Canada’s trove of critical minerals.

With a looming provincial election, Indigenous communities are calling on each provincial leader to commit to allowing Indigenous people to be a part of further mining or hydro projects to protect their jobs and nations, should Trump pull the trigger next month.

“We should be part of the process of extracting those,” Hardy said.

He said they want to be involved in a way that doesn’t harm the land. A big topic of discussion is what’s known as the ‘Spirit of The Land’ and its cultural significance.

“Protection of the land is paramount in the development process,” Plain said.