Mattagami First Nation signs MOU with mining company
Mattagami First Nation, Liberty Mines sign MOU
Michael Peeling, The Timmins Daily Press - May 04, 2007
A First Nation and a junior mining company signed the beginnings of a partnership Friday.
Mattagami First Nation Chief Walter Naveau and councillors met with Edmonton-based Liberty Mines Inc. president Gary Nash at the community hall to sign a memorandum of understanding.
The memo signifies both parties' commitment to developing a long-term agreement to keep the Redstone nickel mine in production and start the McWatters mine on Mattagami lands, ensuring the lives of the mines for years to come.
"We just had some recent drill results (at Redstone) about half an hour ago, which proves that the mine is going to have an extended life," Nash said. "That's excellent for what we're doing here today to develop our company and Mattagami First Nation and our growing relationship as partners."
Mattagami's resource liaison Chris McKay says Liberty has done a good job recognizing that the nickel deposits to be mined are located on the First Nation's traditional lands.
Naveau believes Liberty's project in the area has already benefited his community.
"It's created a good working relationship," Naveau said. "And it's helping us as a First Nations community to achieve our dreams and goals in terms of education for our young people."
Naveau emphasized council's appreciation of Nash coming to Mattagami to share Liberty's discoveries in the land.
Other companies mined 276,700 tons of nickel from Redstone, located 24 kilometres southeast of Timmins, from 1989 to 1996.