THUNDER BAY—The leaders of Long Lake # 58 First Nation are touting the potential benefits of a working agreement with the developers of a gold mine which is still in the planning stages.
At a news conference Tuesday in Thunder Bay, Chief Veronica Waboose and other community representatives announced what they described as a "significant milestone" in Long Lake # 58's relationship with Greenstone Gold Mines.
Greenstone, a joint venture partnership between Centerra Gold Inc. and Premier Gold Mines Ltd., is trying to develop an open pit mine called the Hardrock Project, located on a former mine site on the outskirts of Geraldton.
Officials of the First Nation say they and the company undertook intense negotiations over the past 18 months to reach a framework for a long-term relationship covering Hardrock and other mining claims the company holds in its traditional territory.
Most of the information in the agreement-in-principle is confidential, but Chief Waboose and her council identified a number of areas that are important to them:
- enhanced environmental participation
- financial benefits
- business opportunities
- employment and training
- future projects which Greenstone may develop
The tentative agreement will be presented to Long Lake # 58 membership for ratification at meetings in Thunder Bay and on-reserve next month.
The First Nation's leadership said it considers the agreement "a generational project" for the community.
Greenstone General Manager Eric Lamontagne, who also attended the news conference, said the mine is still awaiting environmental assessment approval from the Ontario and federal governments, which would be followed by funding arrangements.
Long Lake # 58 has entered into previous agreements in support of the Hardrock Project going back as far as 2010 when the first Field Exploration Agreement was negotiated.
