Duane Hicks
In a historic moment for Naicatchewenin First Nation, Chief Wayne Smith signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nelson W. Baker of Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd. during a ceremony Friday morning.
The MOU sets the terms of an ongoing relationship with respect to gold exploration activities on Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd.’s current and future properties in the Straw Lake area.
“Having a Memorandum of Understanding is quite important. This is a historical event for us,” said Chief Smith, who signed the agreement at the same table with Baker, band councillors Donald Smith and Orville Councillor, and Jeremiah Windego, CEO of Naicatchewenin Development Corp.
“It’s the first time we’ve actually been consulted and the first we’ve had an agreement with a mining company,” noted Chief Smith.
“A lot of times we just watch and see things happen from a distance and we never get involved.
“Here, we have an opportunity to be involved, we have an opportunity to partner with a company through this agreement, and we have an opportunity to grow with the company as they continuously explore,” he remarked.
“We also have opportunities as a First Nation community, like employment opportunities, entrepreneurship,” Chief Smith continued. “There’s quite a bit of opportunities here because, at the end of the day, when they’re gone, we’ll still be here.
“What we’re looking for is sustainability for our community members,” he stressed. “We have something where people can get the proper training, we have capacity building for our community that we can use in other areas.”
Chief Smith said the partnership could prove beneficial to other First Nations in the tribal area, as well as district municipalities, in terms of training, employment opportunities, and other economic spin-offs.
“Everybody wins,” Chief Smith enthused. “We’re willing to share that with everybody in the surrounding area.
“If we all live here, with what we bring in, everybody benefits at the end of the day.”
Chief Business Development Officer Tony Marinaro agreed, adding the community also is looking beyond the lifespan of future mining operations to ensure that while the mining company is here, Naicatchewenin can make the most of the situation.
“Make sure that we participate in the process where we get the benefits and that we create the wealth that’s required long after these companies are gone, because our people have to sustain themselves,” he reasoned.
“The intended goal is to have economic independence, to be free of any government funding, to have our own economy within our First Nation and this is the stepping stone for it,” Marinaro added.
“The First Nation has the capacity now to be able to negotiate these agreements, to be able to build a capacity in transferable skills that our community members need to be successful in their lifetimes,” he noted.
“That’s the main goal—it’s not about money, it’s about opportunity and the longevity of relationships and the benefits for everybody.”
Marinaro echoed Chief Smith in the sentiment what is good for the community is good for their neighbours, and vice-versa.
“Unfortunately, we’ve never had a lead role in it, and now we do, and we’re very proud to be at the front end of it.”
Baker, meanwhile, said that after consultation, it’s clear Naicatchewenin has “a strong desire, and a potential, to build a better life and achieve economic self-sufficiency and entrepreneurial success.”
He pointed out Canada’s labour force is shrinking, yet the First Nations’ population is growing. And for a resource-based company, they represent an important niche in the mining industry.
“By signing this MOU today, Mineral Mountain commits to working closely with Naicatchewenin and the surrounding First Nation communities by providing employment opportunities,” said Baker.
“We fully understand it will take a number of years for the local people to learn the necessary skills to work in the exploration industry, as well as in the spin-off jobs associated with such an operation,” he conceded.
Baker stressed the company also respects the protection of the First Nations’ culture and respects their land and resources, adding the foundation of Mineral Mountain’s plan is to work together as partners and respected equals.
“In signing this MOU today, we will be moving forward together towards a brighter and better future for ourselves, our families, and our children.”
The signing ceremony, which was attended by community members, Crossroads School students, and Mineral Mountain’s directors, was presided over by Elder Gilbert Smith.
Elder Smith gave his blessing and asked the spirits for guidance in this venture. He also stressed the importance of the ceremony in marking this moment in Naicatchewenin First Nation’s history—and the importance of the MOU for the future of the community.
The new partners also exchanged gifts to mark the occasion. Naicatchewenin gave Baker and Mineral Mountain board members gifts of wild rice, and gave Baker a traditional shirt, which Elder Smith explained is sacred.
In return, Mineral Mountain presented several gifts, including a “talking stick” (an item used by West Coast First Nations), smoked sockeye salmon, as well as a cheque for $5,000 to start a scholarship fund for youth.
Naicatchewenin’s education committee gave Baker a plaque in thanks of the scholarship seed money.
Mining exploration
Mining Mountain’s Straw Lake gold exploration project is located within the boundaries of the Grand Council Treaty #3 territories, and Naicatchewenin First Nation, which will be the most affected by the continued exploration and development.
Baker said the company only is starting exploration in the Straw Lake area, but is hopeful it will yield results.
“Straw Lake is on an important gold structure that is more than just a regional thing,” he explained. “It stems from the Rainy River deposit right on up to Dryden, it’s a major gold-bearing structure.
“Straw Lake happens to be at the intersection of two big structures and we thought the geology there was very permissive for another gold deposit,” he added.
“So we accumulated a large land package there 11 kilometres by four kilometres in size, and we’re in the process—and that process usually takes two-three years—of evaluating the gold potential in the area.
“We’ve started drilling and announced some drill results, but that’s only the early stage of drilling,” Baker stressed.
“We feel that to properly evaluate that area, it will take three-four years, so it’s a systematic process.
“We do a lot of research before we go into an area, and we like that area very much,” he continued. “We think it’s got excellent potential, similar to Atikokan, similar to the Hammond Reef deposit, and/or the Rainy River deposit.
“That’s what we’re doing here—looking for the big deposit that’s going to maybe, perhaps, develop into a deposit, commercial variety.”
Baker said the company has assembled a strong exploration team and, subject to gold prices and the economy, which factors into financing a major project, the company is confident about future activity in the Straw Lake area.
“We’ll be around for a while. We like the area,” he pledged. “I was involved with the Rainy River process right from day one, and we just want to do the same.”
What is the MOU?
Naicatchewenin and Mineral Mountain have entered into the MOU to reflect their commitment to forge a mutually-beneficial relationship, founded on mutual respect, through a process of ongoing dialogue and regular interaction.
The company has agreed to inform Naicatchewenin in advance of its exploration proposals and timetables, and to conduct all exploration activities in an environmentally-responsible manner.
Mineral Mountain also has committed to offer employment opportunities to qualified Naicatchewenin members, as well as the opportunity to bid on contracts for services and equipment in an open bidding process.
Under the MOU, Mineral Mountain and Naicatchewenin also have committed to develop and implement an Impact and Benefits Agreement (“IBA”) to realize their objectives in a mutually-beneficial manner.
The IBA will include provisions concerning:
•a process which sets out the requirements of notice and consultation during the development, construction, and operation phase of the Straw Lake project;
•Naicatchewenin rights with respect to access to, and maintenance of, its traditional territory without adversely affecting the company’s continuing operations;
•the identification by Naicatchewenin of registered traplines and “sensitive sites” having significance to the communities or individuals within the communities, so the company can avoid and protect such sites to the extent reasonably possible; and
•a process for resolving disputes or disagreements arising out of the terms and provisions or the interpretation of the IBA.
