Thunder Bay, ON – WFCRMA President, Alex Peters, delivered an outstanding talk at the Neeganii-Iishawin Gathering 2025 this past February. He started by introducing himself and telling stories from his past which brought out more than a few laughs from the audience.
He then proudly held up Keeping the Land and underlined how this strategy was initiated and created by the Pikangikum Elders. Many approached him after to take home copies – we ran out before midday! He also held up the physical copy of the Sustainable Forest License (SFL) for the Whitefeather Forest to highlight that we are the only single-entity, First-Nations business that holds an SFL in Ontario’s Far North.
Then, Alex held up the most recent development in these projects: the Construction Phase Approval for Berens River Bridge. This approval officially confirms funding For year-round road access into Pikangikum First Nation. This road will increase critical services for over 10,000 north of the Berens River people and ensure a more reasonable cost of living.
The core of Alex’s talk revolved around eshkotay (‘fire’ in Ojibway), specifically Anishinaabe eshkotay (‘Indigenous Fire’) and how it is tied into Indigenous cultural burning and supporting an Indigenous cultural landscape. Alex recounted how his own grandfather (Daniel Peters) was one of the many Pikangikum fire experts. When Alex’s father (Elder Charlie Peters) was asked where they burned, he replied “Everywhere.” When further questioned as to why, Charlie replied “To make the land beautiful” and, to have more food for birds and animals.
Ingaged Creative Productions, Neeganii Iishawin 2025
Yet, there are laws now that criminalize cultural burning – to the point where in recent history, one Pikangikum Indigenous Cultural Burning expert had to escape to the river to prevent being caught for practising traditional burning. To this, Alex said clearly “Now is the time to act. Now is the time to put our Indigenous Knowledge tradition back to work on fire.” You could feel everyone sit up and pay attention to Alex’s words as he continued his passionate call to action.
The talk was a resounding success as many people came up to Alex afterwards to thank and congratulate him on his moving speech. Many connections and conversations were started at this year’s Neeganii Iishawin conference, and we are excited to continue building relationships until the next one.
Ingaged Creative Productions, Neeganii Iishawin 2025
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