http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/story/2012/03/29/tby-miners-united.html
Exploration companies form new group to share concerns about First Nations
A lawyer who represents junior mining companies in disputes with First Nations says some exploration companies feel they’re not being heard by their industry association.
Neal Smitheman said the Prospectors and Developers Association is trying, and sometimes failing, to represent both industry and First Nations.
Smitheman said that ignores the fact the two are often in conflict. Neal Smitheman, lawyer representing junior mining companies in disputes with First Nations.
“Some people think that PDAC, by trying to accommodate both First Nations and the industry, finds itself in an unresolvable conflict from time to time,” he said.
Smitheman was invited to speak to some junior mining companies who recently formed a group called Miners United. It held a confidential meeting during the Prospectors and Developers conference earlier this month.
“This is not some kind of full scale rebellion,” Smitheman said. “But they feel there is a need to have an association that just represents the industry and doesn’t represent both sides of the issues and the problems.”
Those problems, in Smitheman’s view, stem from a lack of clarity from government about what’s expected from companies working on land claimed by First Nations.
“The thing that is of the most concern right now is that compensation is being demanded by First Nations from these junior exploration companies that are doing what they’re entitled to do under the law,” Smitheman said. “They’re entitled to drill — it’s a free entry system.”
Stan Sudol agrees the rules around consultation need to be cleared up. The communications consultant and mining blogger also attended the inaugural meeting of Miners United.
“Obviously there is some conflict, people are getting frustrated,” Sudol said. “I think the positive outcome of [Miners United] is perhaps to get some standardized rules between the junior exploration sector and the Aboriginal communities.”
But Sudol disagreed with Smitheman’s assertion that conflict is inevitable between the two groups.
“Both groups of people need to align their interests,” Sudol said. “The mining sector and the junior exploration groups have a wonderful opportunity to be able to alleviate poverty in Aboriginal communities so it’s in everyone’s best interest to work together.”