Webequie and Marten Falls First Nations hosting mining workshops for community youth
From the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal
Youths geared up for mining workshops
CARL CLUTCHEY - 08/15/2010
Though mining geologists often work more than a stone‘s throw from remote First Nations, young people living at two Northwestern Ontario reserves will have geologists coming right to their doorstep this month.
Noront Resources, one of the key exploration companies working in the Ring of Fire chromite and nickel deposits north of Thunder Bay, is to conduct separate workshops at Webequie and Marten Falls for children up to 19 years old.
“These young people are our future, and there is no time like the present to invest in their learning of our great mining industry,” Noront human resources vice-president Leanne Hall said.
About 60 youths will receive instruction in everything from claim-staking to the use of GPS technology.
The program is being conducted in conjunction with the provincial government, which is paying a portion of its estimated $55,000 cost.
Though it could be argued that the mining industry has an interest in promoting exploration in the province‘s Far North, First Nations appear to welcome the two workshops.
“They‘re looking forward to it,” said Webequie Coun. Roy Spence, referring to the young people who live on the reserve of 800 Oji-Cree, 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.
“It‘s a good thing to be partnering with the companies in a positive way,” Spence added.
The workshops start Monday in Webequie and Aug. 24 in Marten Falls.
Marten Falls is also a fly-in community, but is about 200 kilometres closer to Thunder Bay.