Aboriginal and Inuit Mining and Oil/Gas – Page 174

‘They are legal’ [KWG staking corridor into Ring of Fire] – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – October 23, 2013)

October 23, 2013

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

A staked corridor into the Ring of Fire was done illegally, accuses a First Nations chief.

In 2009 KWG Resources staked a north-south corridor leading into the area as a proposed rail route. The staked area was vital for the project as a series of sand ridges averaging 100 metres wide covered an otherwise impassable stretch of land.

Cliffs Natural Resources wants to use that same corridor for an all-weather road. Recently officials with the Cleveland-based mining company said their plans for the Ring of Fire might be in jeopardy if the province doesn’t step in and allow for construction of the all-season road.

Marten Falls chief Eli Moonias said Wednesday that the corridor was staked illegally and without consultation with his community while members were protesting near the Ring of Fire in 2009.

“If they had worked with us from the beginning we might not be in the position that we’re in now,” he said during an interview with CKPR Radio Wednesday. Moe Lavigne, KWG’s vice-president of exploration and development, said that under the provincial mining act the only way to make claims is to stake them, which is what the company did.

NEWS RELEASE: More communities connect with gold miner-First Nations power partnership

October 23, 2013

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Five more First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario have connected with Wataynikaneyap Power to strengthen its transmission initiative plans. Earlier this year, Ontario Mining Association member Goldcorp and 13 First Nations started this company to develop a transmission line. The goal is to connect remote communities to the provincial power grid and provide more reliable power to communities and companies already connected.

With Deer Lake, Keewaywin, McDowell Lake, North Spirit Lake and Poplar Hill First Nations coming on board, there are now 18 First Nations working with Goldcorp on this project. “Our communities require a reliable power source to be able to participate in economic development opportunities taking place in the region,” said Wataynikaneyap Power Executive Director Peter Campbell. “We look forward to benefiting from this very important infrastructure project.”

“Wataynikaneyap Power is an example of how industry and First Nations can work together on projects that are good for the economy and the environment while benefitting communities in the region for years to come,” said Gil Lawson, Mine Manager for Goldcorp’s Musselwhite Operation, when the power company was launched. Since then, Mr. Lawson has been appointed Vice President Operational Support Canada and U.S. for Goldcorp.

History comes back to haunt in New Brunswick – by Devon Black (iPolitics Insight – October 21, 2013)

October 23, 2013

http://www.ipolitics.ca/

Hey, Canada. We need to talk. Specifically, we need to talk history – because too many of us don’t know about important parts of it. Without that history, it’s impossible to understand exactly what happened when the RCMP stormed First Nations protestors in Rexton, New Brunswick, last week.

First of all, let’s review what happened. In March 2010, SWN Resources Canada — a subsidiary of a Texas energy company — was granted a license to search one million hectares in New Brunswick. Since this summer, protesters — including members of the Elsipogtog (ell-see-book-toq) First Nation — have been fighting SWN’s plans to search for shale gas. To do that, they blocked access to SWN equipment.

SWN went to court to obtain an injunction against the protestors earlier this month. On Oct. 12, that injunction was extended to Oct. 21; hearings were due to be held on Oct. 18 on the possibility of extending the injunction further.

All-weather roads under consideration – by Rick Garrick (Wawatay News -October 21, 2013)

October 22, 2013

http://wawataynews.ca/

Discussions about all-weather roads and winter roads are ramping up across Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory.

“But recently, in the past three or four years, First Nations are now starting to talk all-weather roads because of the difficulties they are encountering due to shorter seasons caused by climate change, warmer weather and thinner ice.”

Louttit said the changing conditions are putting winter-road workers’ lives at risk as well as increasing costs for construction. “We had two deaths last year in northwestern Ontario,” Louttit said. “It’s hard to predict the weather, but in order for the winter roads to be viable, we need cold weather and thicker ice.”

Louttit said NAN is looking at developing a NAN-wide strategy on the transportation issue, noting the changing weather conditions and upcoming resource industry transportation requirements need to be considered.

Ring of Fire developer says Ontario must act to save project – by Maria Babbage (iPolitics.com – October 21, 2013)

October 21, 2013

http://www.ipolitics.ca/

TORONTO – A major player in developing the much-touted Ring of Fire project in northern Ontario says it will consider pulling out if the Ontario government doesn’t ensure the company has access to the chromite deposit.

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., a U.S.-based company that is prepared to spend billions of dollars on the massive mining project, has been unable to build an all-weather road to the site because it would cross land staked by a rival company.

If it can’t build the road, Cliffs will have to consider shutting down operations, said Bill Boor, vice-president of ferroalloys.

“I guess it would be fair to say that we have to think about it,” he said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “We haven’t made any decision along those lines and we hope we don’t get to that point.”

But the project is in a “tenuous state,” he said. If the company doesn’t have a transportation route, it doesn’t have a project, he said.

Canada to push for resource development at helm of Arctic Council – by Josh Wingrove (Globe and Mail – October 21, 2013)

October 21, 2013

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

OTTAWA — After a Throne Speech that pledged a focus on the North, Environment Minister and Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq is Yukon-bound to kick off Canada’s term at the helm of the international Arctic Council. She’ll use it to push for expanded resource development and more indigenous involvement in research on subjects such as climate change.

Representatives of the world’s eight Arctic countries are gathering in Whitehorse, beginning Monday, as Canada’s two-year term begins with a focus on development, safe shipping and sustainable communities, and with plans to create a circumpolar business forum.

“Our overarching theme for Canada’s chairmanship is development for the people of the North,” Ms. Aglukkaq told The Globe and Mail. “My meeting with them is to launch that, to talk about the priorities, the importance of working together moving forward,” she added.

Research and environmental protection of the North are pillars of the council’s mandate, and the meeting comes after Ms. Aglukkaq this month said there’s “debate” about the effects of climate change, a subject not mentioned in Wednesday’s Throne Speech.

Mining academy equips students with high-tech know-how – by Nick Martin (Brandon Sun – October 21, 2013)

October 21, 2013

http://www.brandonsun.com/

‘Hands-on applied learning’

FLIN FLON — No, a pickaxe isn’t on the list of school supplies. Not like when Dallas Mihalicz’s forebears went down into the mines.

The 18-year-old from Flin Flon wants to follow them, but she’d be operating with sophisticated technology or working the controls of a 50-ton loader two kilometres below the rugged Canadian Shield.

Though, more likely, Mihalicz wouldn’t get near the underground until she’d put in her time working on the frozen tundra at an exploration camp searching for the next motherlode. “I’ve been growing up around mining, my father, grandpa, uncle. My dad’s a geologist,” said Mihalicz, who graduated from Flin Flon’s Hapnot Collegiate in June.

Most of her current 11 classmates took far more circuitous routes to University College of the North’s Northern Manitoba Mining Academy, which opened only a year ago in downtown Flin Flon, next door to the hospital and practically in the shadow of the HudBay Minerals mine.

Bob Rae says mining will help First Nations – by Kyle Gennings (Timmins Daily Press – October 18, 2013)

October 18, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Inclusion, expansion and understanding were the central theme of the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund’s Mining Ready Summit. The keynote speaker continued to convey the point.

Former Ontario premier Bob Rae spoke about the need to include First Nations in all aspects of development, increasing accessibility to remote Northern communities and spreading the potential wealth found in the Ring of Fire development.

“I think that the current model is ready to be put into action,” said Rae in an interview following his speech. “I think that building sustainability into the approach that companies are taking, I think that we need to look at sustaining communities and sustainability is about the people as well as the environment.”

Rae was referring to the remote First Nations communities like Attawapiskat, Martin River and Moose Factory; communities which have close proximity to current and future economic development.

“We need to recognize that development needs to happen,” said Rae.

‘Nobody is leaving,’ N.B. native protesters vow after clash with RCMP turns violent [shale-gas protest] – Gloria Galloway and Jane Taber (Globe and Mail – October 18, 2013)

October 18, 2013

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

A native protest against a shale-gas project in New Brunswick has exploded in violence, sending dozens of people to jail and reducing five police cars to smouldering ruins.

The clash between the RCMP and the Elsipogtog First Nation, north of Moncton, began early Thursday morning when a large number of officers arrived at a compound where SWN Resources Canada stores equipment. The police intended to enforce an injunction against a native blockade that has prevented SWN, a natural gas and oil exploration company, from conducting seismic testing.

The protesters refused the demands to disperse, and the confrontation devolved into a melee of tear gas and rubber bullets. In the end, at least 40 people, including Elsipogtog Chief Arren Sock and several council members, had been arrested and five police cruisers had been set ablaze. The situation had calmed by early evening with news that Mr. Sock and some of the other protesters had been released.

“But nobody is leaving,” said Susan Levi-Peters, a former chief. “We don’t want shale gas here. We have been asking for consultations for three years now and nothing has happened. Instead they just put our people in jail.”

Stephen Harper ignores Canada’s First Nations at own peril – by Thomas Walkon (Toronto Star – October 17, 2013)

October 17, 2013

The Toronto Star has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on federal and Ontario politics as well as shaping public opinion.

The prime minister must curry favour with Canadian aboriginals if his resource agenda is to succeed. Why then is he so obdurate?

Historically, the Canadian government has catered to aboriginals only when it needed them. It needs them now. Specifically, Prime Minister Stephen Harper needs First Nations on side if his government is to push through its ambitious resource development plans and reap the requisite political awards.

British Columbia’s native communities have the capacity to tie up — perhaps indefinitely — Harper’s proposed oil pipeline to the Pacific Coast. They have promised to do just that. Mining development in northern Ontario’s so-called ring of fire can take place only if First Nations there agree.

So far, the Ontario government has been carrying out the ring-of-fire negotiations. But Ottawa too wants those minerals developed and the federal government’s approach to native people is bound to have an effect on any final deal.

Port plan would aid Ring of Fire – by Kyle Gennings (Timmins Daily Press – October 17, 2013)

October 17, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – The Ring of Fire development has made headlines over past months and years for both the sheer scale and economic potential of its Chromite deposit and for the myriad of problems that both junior companies like KWG Resources and big mining conglomerates like Cliffs Natural Resources.

The logistical nightmare of exporting high-grade ore from the James Bay Lowlands to processing centres in Sudbury has plagued the development of the massive ore body.

But KWG Resources has brought forward a solution. The James Bay and Lowland Ports Authority.

“When the announcement was made regarding the dissolving of the ONTC and the ONR, the labour unions that represent those employees came to us (KWG) with an idea,” said Frank Smeenk, CEO of KWG Resources. “They talked to us about being from the North, about watching the development of the Ring of Fire, particularly the Black Horse deposit, and we know that we have a perfectly viable railroad business, maybe we can collaborate.”

All-weather roads under consideration: chiefs – by Rick Garrick (Wawatay News – October 15, 2013)

October 16, 2013

http://wawataynews.ca/

Discussions about all-weather roads and winter roads are ramping up across Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory.

“We’ve had tons of resolutions regarding winter roads over the years, 20-30 years,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit during the Sept. 27 Winter Roads and All-Weather Roads First Nations Forum in Thunder Bay. “But recently, in the past three or four years, First Nations are now starting to talk all-weather roads because of the difficulties they are encountering due to shorter seasons caused by climate change, warmer weather and thinner ice.”

Louttit said the changing conditions are putting winter-road workers’ lives at risk as well as increasing costs for construction.

“We had two deaths last year in northwestern Ontario,” Louttit said. “It’s hard to predict the weather, but in order for the winter roads to be viable, we need cold weather and thicker ice.”

Aglukkaq will have final say on controversial Fish Lake mine in B.C. Interior – by Gloria Galloway (Globe and Mail – October 11, 2013)

October 11, 2013

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

OTTAWA — In one of her first tests as Environment Minister, Leona Aglukkaq will give thumbs up or down to a proposed mine in British Columbia that is a new version of a plan tossed out as ecologically disastrous by a former Conservative minister.

Chiefs from Tsilhqot’in First Nations say they have no doubt that a federal environmental assessment panel, which is weeks away from delivering a verdict on the New Prosperity mine at Fish Lake in the B.C. Interior, will reject it out of hand.

They say the plan for the billion-dollar gold-and-copper pit that Taseko Mines Ltd. wants to dig near the lake the Tsilhqot’in call Teztan Biny – a small body of water they consider culturally and spiritually sacred – is just as bad as the earlier version thrown out in 2010 by former environment minister Jim Prentice.

Representatives from environmental groups who sat in on the panel’s hearings this summer say they are cautiously optimistic it is preparing to say no to the mine. Scientists from Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Fisheries and Oceans, as well officials from B.C.’s provincial ministries, expressed significant concerns about the project.

B.C.’s First Nations are suddenly the cool kids – by Gary Mason (Globe and Mail – October 11, 2013)

October 11, 2013

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

For decades, federal governments have done their best to avoid dealing with the many intractable issues facing British Columbia’s First Nations. Provincial governments have been only slightly more engaged in trying to right many of these decades-old wrongs.

The B.C. treaty process established in the early 1990s has been a failure. In the intervening time, only two First Nations groups have signed accords. The blame for failing to reach more deals has been laid at the feet of Ottawa, which has preferred to study the often thorny problems emerging from negotiations rather than actually deal with them.

Any time a federal or B.C. government has tried to unilaterally exert rights in matters affecting the province’s First Nations, they’ve been slapped down by the courts. Still, it hasn’t stopped Ottawa from pretending and acting as if the rulings didn’t give aboriginal groups any additional powers. At least until now.

Ontario’s Ring Of Fire Risks Becoming ‘Wild West’ Of Mining: Watchdog – by Sunny Freeman (Huffington Post – October 11, 2013)

October 11, 2013

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/

Ontario’s Ring of Fire region could devolve into the “wild west” of resource development, if the province doesn’t immediately make environmental risks a priority, warns the government’s environment watchdog.

“We really only have one chance to get things right in the far north,” Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller said in a speech Thursday after presenting his annual report.

“We’re talking about a really remote facility, but a huge economic opportunity for the province of Ontario.”

Miller skewered the government for its lack of formal environmental monitoring in the far north, despite burgeoning mining activity in the Ring of Fire, which is said to contain as much as $50 billion in resource wealth.

The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario’s report makes two recommendations concerning the region. He calls on the government to conduct immediate and thorough environmental monitoring and to expand the scope of its environmental reviews to include the cumulative impact of a new mining frontier in an untouched region of Canada.