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Aboriginal and Inuit Mining and Oil/Gas

NEWS RELEASE: “When is a mine not a mine?” – IOC – Rio Tinto & IOC’s illegal mining activities the subject of a new lawsuit filed by Canadian Aboriginal group

UASHAT MAK MANI-UTENAM, QC, July 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ – The Innu First Nation of Uashat Mak Mani-utenam filed another lawsuit on July 22, 2013, this time in Federal Court, in regard to Rio Tinto’s IOC mining project (in addition to the CAD$900 suit filed on March 18, 2013). While IOC (majority-owned by Rio Tinto) continues to violate the Canadian Aboriginal group’s rights, destroy their environment and intrude on their territory, IOC has announced that the company seeks to open a whole new mine (called Wabush 3) next to their current project in Western Labrador.

Not only would such a new mine be a clear violation of the Aboriginal group’s constitutionally protected and internationally recognized indigenous rights but, in addition, IOC is attempting to avoid an environmental assessment and review of the new mine. The Innu First Nation of Uashat Mak Mani-utenam had no other choice therefore but to file another lawsuit respecting IOC’s activities to attempt to stop such undermining of Canadian environmental laws.

“IOC has clearly become a rogue entity. Not only is IOC the only mining operator on the Uashat Mak Mani-utenam traditional territory without an agreement with our people (4 other agreements with other mining companies), but here it is involved with flagrantly violating Canadian environmental law in an attempt to push their new project through at any cost,” stated Mike McKenzie, Chief of the Innu First Nation of Uashat Mak Mani-utenam.

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My excellent plan for the Ring of Fire – by David Robinson (Northern Ontario Business – August 2013)

Established in 1980, Northern Ontario Business provides Canadians and international investors with relevant, current and insightful editorial content and business news information about Ontario’s vibrant and resource-rich North.

David Robinson is an economist at Laurentian University. drobinson@laurentian.ca

Ontario’s northwest is one of the last great frontiers. It is a country-sized chunk of land still outside of the transportation network that links productive communities to the global economy. Ice roads, small planes and bureaucrats are all that tie the region to Canada.

But northwestern Ontario’s place in the global economy is changing. The trigger was finding enough ore near McFauld’s
Lake to justify building a road or rail link. With bulk transportation, 100 other potential mines become economic.

This comes when China plans to build urban homes for 250 million people by 2025 and will want Northern metals and wood.
And when economic recovery in the USA will help push resource prices back up. And when warming climate will make ice roads
impossible and another port on Hudson’s Bay inevitable.

A good plan starts by looking at best practices from around the world. The Finns, for example, would probably be planning an independent Aboriginal-dominated regional government for the northwest.

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Old diary used as leverage in court challenge [for ‘fair share’ from mines] – by Staff (Timmins Daily Press – July 29, 2013)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

MOOSE FACTORY – Mushkegowuk First Nations are hosting a three-day conference this week to discuss the future of Treaty No. 9. This comes on the heels of a court challenge that has been launched by Mushkegowuk council earlier this month.

The dispute is over Aboriginal land rights and traplines in the Cochrane area where there has been increased mining activity. Mushkegowuk is using as legal leverage a 108-year-old diary that belonged to Daniel MacMartin, the Ontario treaty commissioner who negotiated Treaty No. 9 in 1905.

Much fanfare was made by Mushkegowuk when the diary was discovered a couple of years ago. It was felt MacMartin’s diary reaffirms the view that Aboriginal leaders were duped into signing a written treaty which they did not fully understand.

“When my grandfather signed the treaty in Fort Albany in 1905, the terms as discussed and orally agreed to, were very clear,” said Grand Chief Stan Louttit. “It was a sacred oral agreement about living together and sharing the land.

“The Omushkego (people of Mushkegowuk) never surrendered the land or the natural resources but were told their rights would be protected.”

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Ring of Fire budget cut by $10M – by Carl Clutchey (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – July 29, 2013)

Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal is the daily newspaper of Northwestern Ontario.

Six weeks after it hit the pause button on its environmental assessment for its Ring of Fire project, Cliffs Natural Resources announced that its development budget for the proposed chromite mine has been trimmed by US $10 million.

The Cleveland-based company this spring earmarked $60 million for the work to take place this year, including a feasibility study. A financial report on the company’s second quarter performance released on Thursday shows the figure has been reduced to $50 million.

Regional Cliffs spokeswoman Jennifer Mihalcin confirmed Friday that the reduction is a reflection of the earlier decision to temporarily put the brakes on work on its environmental assessment for the Ring of Fire project. An additional $25 million set aside for overall exploration remains the same.

In June, Cliffs said it was frustrated by a lack of consensus among provincial, company and First Nations interests regarding how the environmental assessment should proceed. Cliffs has been trying to nail down the assessment’s terms of reference for two years. The mine’s proposed in-production year is 2017.

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For First Nations, Great Jobs in a Controversial Industry -by Katie Hyslop (The Tyee.ca – July 26, 2013)

http://thetyee.ca/

One organization’s success teaching Aboriginal people mining skills isn’t without complications.

Unemployment for Aboriginal people in the province is twice as high as the rest of British Columbians. But Aboriginal people are defying the employment odds in the province’s mining industry, thanks in part to the BC Aboriginal Training Association (BCAMTA), which provides job training for the mining industry to Aboriginal people in B.C.

In a July 22 press conference in Vancouver, the association released a PricewaterhouseCoopers audit of their practices from their start in January 2010 until March 2013. Results show the organization has registered 1,533 training candidates, 500 of which have successfully achieved employment in their field.

BCAMTA’s work has paid off for the economy, too. CEO Laurie Sterritt says a $6.68-million federal government investment to start the program has translated into a $53.4-million annual contribution to B.C.’s GDP.

“This isn’t a one time boost to the economy: this is an amount that will grow as our employee candidates get salary increases, earn bonus payouts, and move up the ladder to more senior positions,” she said.

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A new game aims to help would-be miners find a way into the field – by Leith Dunick (tbnewswatch.com – July 25, 2013)

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

Cam Meshake knows mining prosperity might be just around the corner. But the Aroland First Nation resident said for many of his twenty-something friends, it’s tough figuring out how to break into the industry.

He’s got a much better idea of how to get there now, thanks to Ohski-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute’s new industry-specific web portal, Learning2Mine.ca.

Designed as a game, along the lines of Facebook favourite Farmville, the site details career possibilities and the path youngsters should take to land not only entry-level jobs, but well-paying mid- to upper-level careers. “It’s a really fun game to play. I just dove right into it,” Meshake said at Thursday’s initial public unveiling of the site.

“The story was interesting and kept me engaged. I learned a lot about the mining industry with this website and all the vast opportunities and the rewards that would come from the mining industry.”

Gordon Kakegamic, the school’s e-learning co-ordinator, said the government-funded project was developed specifically to address Aboriginal youth, many of whom are interested in making mining a career, but without the knowledge to do so.

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Editorial: [British Columbia’s] Prosperity’s temerity – by Gwen Preston (Northern Miner – July 24, 2013)

The Northern Miner, first published in 1915, during the Cobalt Silver Rush, is considered Canada’s leading authority on the mining industry. 

I visited Taseko Mines’ Gibraltar mine north of Williams Lake, B.C., in 2008. The company bought the shuttered operation in 1998 and restarted it in 2004. Four expansions later, Gibraltar now employs 700 people, churns out 90 million lb. copper annually and is a major regional economic driver. It’s been a great story for a part of the province that has struggled with mill closures and unemployment.

During that Gibraltar tour, talk kept veering towards the Prosperity project, 175 km south. I remember Taseko president and CEO Russell Hallbauer downplaying the challenges of permitting the new mine. He figured Taseko had earned respect from the locals through Gibraltar and that, combined with a dire need for new economic activity locally, would mean enough support to dial down any voices of discontent.

What Hallbauer could not have predicted was that Prosperity, which happens to sit on lands involved in Canada’s most significant aboriginal land claims court case, would become a rallying cry for almost every anti-mining voice in the province.

Prosperity is a copper-molybdenum porphyry that Taseko wants to open pit mine. There’s a lake beside the deposit — known as Fish Lake, or Teztan Biny — that is one of 13,000 lakes in the Caribou region in the 100- to 150-hectare size range.

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[Ring of Fire] Community input – by Jeff Labine (tbnewswatch.com – July 24, 2013)

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

Eli Moonias says he believes the judicial review of the federal environmental assessment of the Ring of Fire won’t address all of his community’s concerns with the project.

The chief of Marten Falls First Nation as well as band councillors and members of his community were in the city to meet with officials with Cliffs. The meeting, which was held at the Prince Arthur Hotel Wednesday, is being hosted by the community and looking for direction on moving forward with the Ring of Fire project.

Moonias said they want to know how to approach the provincial environmental assessment. “What we’re trying to do is come up with a process that will work for both Ontario and the industry as well as our communities,” he said. “There are two processes; one is the (Canadian Environmental Assessment), which is before the courts, not the provincial one. The provincial one is being organized as we speak.

“We’re trying to get the process underway so that it will address our issues, which won’t be addressed in the CEA.” Earlier this year, Cliffs suspended its environmental assessment activities in the Ring of Fire.

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First Nations royalty tax regime called for – by Rick Garrick (Wawatay News – July 24, 2013)

http://www.wawataynews.ca/

Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit is calling for a “First Nations royalty tax regime” for all developments within Treaty 9 and 5 territories.

“We don’t want to be at the local First Nation negotiating or tribal council-level negotiating table,” Louttit said. “(Nishnawbe Aski Nation is looking for) a resource revenue and benefits sharing agreement with Ontario, which would include mining, forestry, hydro or tourism — that’s where NAN’s role is.”

Louttit said NAN is not interested in being involved with the Ring of Fire negotiations that are scheduled to involve Matawa’s chief negotiator Bob Rae and Ontario’s lead negotiator Frank Iacobucci. Iacobucci was appointed on July 2 and Rae was appointed on May 10.

“We were not involved in Musselwhite; we were not involved in the Moose Cree OPG or Detour Lake project or any of the Wabun Tribal Council projects dealing with mining and hydro,” Louttit said. “The only time NAN has recommended professional advice is back in 2000 when the Victor Mine was being negotiated. I think the NAN executive at that time provided some or recommended some legal and professional advice to the First Nations.”

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Iacobucci visits Matawa communities – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – July 24, 2013)

http://www.wawataynews.ca/

Ontario’s Ring of Fire negotiator, Justice Frank Iacobucci, made his first visits to Matawa communities last week in what he said was a chance to see the communities, meet community members and leaders and get a better sense of what the issues facing Matawa communities are.

“I want to show respect to the First Nations, by visiting and explaining what my mandate is, and also so they know who I am,” Iacobucci said. “We want to ensure we have good lines of communication.”

Iacobucci, who most recently completed a report on the underrepresentation of First Nations people on provincial jury rolls, was named Ontario’s Ring of Fire negotiator in June. The Matawa First Nations have contracted former Liberal leader Bob Rae to negotiate with Iacobucci on their behalf.

On July 18 Iacobucci and Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle travelled to Neskantaga. They had previously visited Marten Falls and Eabametoong. Iacobucci said he hopes to be invited to visit all Matawa communities before formal negotiations start.

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William Boor, Cliffs Natural Resouces Senior VP-Global Ferroalloys, Ring of Fire Thunder Bay Speech (June 20, 2013)

http://www.cliffsnaturalresources.com/

William Boor, senior vice president — global ferroalloys, spoke at the 3rd Annual Ontario Mining Forum, held in Thunder Bay in June 20-21, 2013. During his keynote address, Mr. Boor talked about Cliffs Chromite Project and the potential impacts and opportunities mineral resource development projects can have for the communities of the Ring of Fire region of Northern Ontario.

Third Ontario Mining Forum Speech – by William Boor, Senior Vice President Global Ferroalloys

This evening I’m very happy to be here, happy to have the opportunity to speak to such a great room and a wonderfully captive audience as well. I’m excited about the opportunity because I think we have come to a time that will prove to be really critical in the history of the Ring of Fire development.

I wanted to start out by saying that I stand here talking tonight as a face of “industry.” We talk about Government, First Nations and industry and I am the face of industry. I know what comes with that. As “industry” I am expected to be self-interested for my company’s shareholders only, interested in keeping as much as possible, and by inference, giving as little as possible.

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Ring of Fire talks between First Nations, province to start soon – by Alisha Hiyate (Mining Markets Magazine – July 23, 2013)

http://www.miningmarkets.ca/

Bob Rae on his new gig as chief negotiator for the Matawa Tribal Council

Talks between First Nations and the Ontario government regarding development in the remote Ring of Fire area are set to start soon, now that both sides have appointed lead negotiators.

In May, the Matawa Tribal Council, which is made up of nine First Nations communities that would be most affected by potential development in the Ring of Fire, announced that lawyer and politician Bob Rae will be their chief negotiator. Rae was the leader of the federal Liberal party until mid-April, and premier of Ontario from 1990-1995. He will step down as MP for Toronto-Centre at the end of July, freeing him to work on the negotiations full time.

Earlier this month, the province named its own chief negotiator — retired Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci.

While commodities prices have seen a big pullback since 2011, it might actually be a good time for such negotiations — the scope of which is yet to be defined, but will likely include investments in education and health, as well as infrastructure, and will clearly take time to conclude.

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B.C. aboriginals entering mining industry in large numbers, report says – by Brian Morton (Vancouver Sun – July 23, 2013)

http://www.vancouversun.com/index.html

B.C. aboriginals are entering the mining profession in growing numbers and a growing number of them are women, according to a report released Tuesday.

The PwC report conducted for the B.C. Aboriginal Mine Training Association also found that the dollars invested in training an aboriginal job candidate for a mining career resulted in a nearly 300-per-cent increase in annual wages for the employee, from an average of $13,754 to $52,959.

“So, for about a $15,000 investment in our employed candidates, they are contributing about $108,000 to the provincial GDP,” said association chief executive Laurie Sterritt on Tuesday. “That’s pretty impressive. There’s also a 280-per-cent increase in their salary levels, on average. “In addition to the obvious financial benefits, it provides them with confidence, empowerment, hope and possibilities, which changes lives.”

The report found that an investment of $14,808 trains one candidate and generates approximately $106,804 on average for the provincial economy through higher wages and increased spending. As well, each employed graduate generates about $20,000 in government revenue.

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Native communities embrace summer literacy camps – by Simona Chiose (Globe and Mail – July 20, 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.

FORT HOPE, Ont. — From the shore of Eabamet Lake in Fort Hope, Ont., Ardelle Sagutcheway surveys the land, the water, the tall white birches she’ll miss when she goes to study nursing in the fall at Lakehead University.

“This is where we belong, this is where we come from,” she says.

About 2,500 members of the Eabametoong First Nation live away from the town, but Ms. Sagutcheway won’t be one of them. Degree in hand, she will come back to serve this community 300 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. Ms. Sagutcheway tells a story about her last name – which means “coming around the hill”: At the turn of the last century, when the band signed a treaty with the government, a many-times-over great-grandfather was late to the signing – he was just coming around the hill.

This summer, Ms. Sagutcheway is a counsellor at the Lieutenant-Governor’s Summer Aboriginal Literacy Camps. Since the camps were initiated by former Ontario lieutenant-governor James Bartleman eight years ago, they’ve grown to 80 locations in remote native communities across the country, with half in Ontario. This year, the beginning of discussions about the Ring of Fire natural resource development in the north of the province is lending a new urgency to the camps. The need for educated labour in the region is projected to grow exponentially, but if native literacy rates do not increase, Ontario could see a repeat of the Alberta experience, where labour shortages have not closed the gap between provincial and aboriginal employment rates.

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Jumping into the Ring of Fire – by David McLaren (QMI Agency/Sarnia Observer – July 19, 2013)

http://www.theobserver.ca/

Well-connected ex-politician Bob Rae must work with head and heart for First Nations as pressure mounts to develop Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire

I’m looking at a map of northern Ontario where there’s a pretty patchwork of colours in the shape of a crescent moon: deep sea-blue for Freewest Resources, orange for KWG, bright sun-yellow for Probe, grass green for Fancamp, sky-blue for the Freewest/Spider/KWG partnership.

They are some of the thousands of claims staked by mining companies in the Ring of Fire — 5,120 square kilometres in the watersheds of Hudson and James bays and chock full of chromite, nickel, copper and zinc worth well over $100 billion. That’s a sizable chunk of boreal forest, itself a carbon sink in the order of the Amazon rain forest.

Imagine you’re on the shore of McFaulds Lake. You’re looking at trees and rock and muskeg — swampland, millions of acres of it. Turn around and you’ll see KWG’s base camp and maybe a drill or two pulling up core samples of chromite. Well, why not? you ask. There’s nothing else there.

Not so. It’s home for everything and everyone from black flies to black bears to First Nations peoples — Cree and Anishinaabek — whose ways of life will be forever altered if and when all those pretty coloured claims become mines.

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