The Power of Unity, The Dignity of Difference

MEDIA RELEASE                                                                                           

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GINOOGAMING FIRST NATION CALLS ON MINISTER HAJDU TO DELIVER ON BRIDGE COMMITMENTS

GINOOGAMING, ON – Ginoogaming First Nation (GFN) Chief and Council today called on Canada to deliver on its promise to fund critical access into the community. In the decades after Treaty No. 9 was signed, Canada and Ontario enabled private-industry to build the Making Ground River Bridge onto Ginoogaming’s reserve lands. The privately-owned bridge had not been properly maintained for decades, despite repeated concerns raised by leadership within the Nation. In October 2024, the bridge was forced to close after an engineering inspection warned it could fail at any moment.

GFN took action to secure a contractor to deliver, assemble and deploy a temporary, modular bridge. For its part, Canada promised to:

• Provide funding to support the construction of the temporary bridge
• Establish a working group with Ontario focused on repair and maintenance

However, Canada has yet to deliver on either promise. “Indigenous Services Canada Minister, Patty Hajdu, promised to provide critical funding for the modular bridge,” said Chief Sheri Taylor. “Behind the scenes, we have been working hard to get this funding released. But over four months have passed, and we haven’t seen one penny from Minister Hajdu.”

Canada’s promise to convene a working group has also fallen short. Not a single meeting has been convened this year. In the meantime, a state of emergency declared by Ginoogaming First Nation has yet to be lifted.

Chief Taylor expressed frustration about the slow pace of its Treaty partners: “We can’t wait months for Canada and Ontario to sit down at the table. I’m calling on Minister Hajdu and Minister Rickford to keep their promises and move this process forward immediately.”

– 30 –

For more information please contact Carol Audet, Communications  Manager – Matawa First Nations, at (807) 642-9663 or by email at caudet@matawa.on.ca.

DOWNLOAD MEDIA RELEASE