The traditional area KI is located in is called the "Ring of Fire" by exploration companies. Discovery of extensive chromite deposits along with nickel and copper near McFaulds Lake and the Attawapiskat River have raised the possibility of large and long-term developments in a remote area on the fringe of the Hudson Bay Lowlands.

In July 2011, KI held a community referendum and, passed into law a declaration that in effect "nationalized" all the resources on their homelands and protected all the waters flowing in and out of Big Trout Lake watershed, in the core of their homeland. This is a Canadian first.

With exploration and mining companies expecting substantial subsidies from the Ontario government, taxpayers will potentially be on the hook for millions of dollars. No proper assessment of infrastructure needs and environmental impact assessments have been done to date. The costs for clean up after the mining companies have left are unknown.