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From Northern Ontario Business

Pay to Play in the Ring of Fire

By: Northern Ontario Business staff

A Northern Ontario First Nation is making an all-business move to attract mining suppliers to the Far North.

Marten Falls First Nation is hosting a Ring of Fire: Emerging Business Conference, Aug. 11-12, 2010 at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay.

It's being billed as a “rare and unique” invitation for mining equipment and service companies, finance, transportation, communications and information technology firms to get some face time with Chief Eli Moonias and his council.

For $5,000, companies get “guaranteed access” to Moonias at specially arranged one-on-one sessions, said organizer Bruce Krupp.

If that's too steep, there's a $350 fee for companies to attend the opening day of presentations and leave behind their literature.

“It develops an inventory of possible joint venture partners that Marten Falls can work with when the time arises. (Companies) get to meet them early and start their negotiations,” said Krupp.

“Not everyone can afford $5,000 but they may have a great product that the First Nation should see or know about.”

The community of 600 is located 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

Marten Falls has struck a partnership agreement with Noront Resources, a leading junior miner in the Ring with chromite, nickel, copper and platinum group metal deposits in one of the hottest exploration camps in Canada.

Noront president/CEO Wes Hanson and his team will outline its development plans and supply needs over the next three to four years.

Krupp said the infrastructure requirements to service mining companies will be massive. “It's like taking Sudbury and moving it up there. Down the road, there's going to be a dozen mines running up there.”

There will also be 'education sessions' on the cultural and legal requirements of doing business with First Nation communities.

For details on the conference, e-mail Bruce Krupp at bruce@kruppconsulting.ca