The protest/blockade was to be expected because things moved forward due to Cliffs taking a foot hold but with that they decided to bypass the local communities with their transportation routes.
How could the local communities stand by watching this without making themselves heard?
They are small in number and the area is huge. They have no choice but to be heard as early as possible before it is too late lest they be ignored by the politicians. It is the Ontario government ( politicians ) that need to take a leading role is establishing some basic rules and plans for the region. By that I mean they should determine where and what transpodtation route are to exist taking existing communities into considerstion.

It should not by done the 'American' way where corporations have their way and it necessitates legal action for things to get settled fairly. Cliffs having expanded their interest in the Ring are in need of playing a catch-up role with respect of the natives. They having neglected this has caused this blockade. I see it as their main responsibility ( with politicians ) to solve it, not Noront. Next important move in the Ring is not Noront's but Cliffs. If they continue to falter, woe is for the rest in the Ring. So from my perspective it is that they are assuming a leading role, imo. However they will not be providing the transportation infrastructure. I believe that is the government's role. What Cliffs is bringing is the incentive for that infrastructure to be provided. In other words thare is likely to be a tax base to pay back for the transportation route to be paid for. Road that is, rail is an open question. If Cliffs builds a rail line they would have to accept others using it for compansation. In that case would they not be asking in the begining for partnerships or cash up front before proceeding? I would.

In case anyone thinks I am all for the natives, that is not completely so.

Too often the natives, small in number but having the use of the land over tens of kilometers in all directions and for centuties or millenia in time, are presumed to be owners of the land per European legal practice. Such was not the case, most do not hold deeds and should not be assumed as such. By this I mean that they have a disproportionate influence respective to their numbers and often a overstated privilege from the historic usage.

This is not the 18th century but the 21st. There is a huge difference.

By this rant I mean that the natives should be heard and taken into consideration but not be allowed to dictate per the blockade.
This is not their fault. They are reacting to the hand that has been dealt to them.
The fault is with government due to being slow in implementing a policy for the region regarding development and fair compensation to the natives for loss of any use of the land.

Should I be reminding everyone that the actual loss of use is miniscule in relation to what is there?
Building roads, rail lines and landing strips means cutting down a very tiny section of forest and represents a mere prick on the land scape. However these mean a potentially greater benefit to them than the loss. So it is a hollow argument based on greed than anything else.

Environmental pollution could be note worthy so this aspect does need to be addressed early and with greater consideration.

The fact that Noront stopped drilling is not as bad as some speculate. Noront wants to preserve it's presumably good relations with the natives so it would have been counter productive to try to operate and setting a poor example.

Not very long ago many Noront shareholders were complaing of not being informed enough, now we are being informed more frequently and more thoroughty ( Thank you Wes) per examples of the news releases regarding natives ( when others in the Ring are closed mouthed ) but that now is reverted to a bad policy. It is not easy to please shareholders.
E.G.