Mineral Exploration, Development
& Aboriginal Interests

Raising awareness, clearing misperceptions and reconciling differences between the mining industry and aboriginal interests in lands and use of resources are necessary to facilitate capturing benefits from mining among all stakeholders. Aboriginal, non-aboriginal, government and mining company leaders in the region all have an integral part to play at the community and regional level.  Moreover, other considerations play an important role among stakeholders, and include: 

  • Understanding how the new mining industry today works
  • Understanding how the Mining Act relates to aboriginal rights supported with success stories
    from around Canada
  • Raising awareness of the real potential for a significant mineral discovery in Northwestern Manitoba
  • Emphasizing renewing energies toward resolving outstanding Treaty Land Entitlements among all stakeholders in order to open the region for systematic mineral exploration
  • Raising awareness of powerful and new community and economic development opportunities made possible through agreements and meaningful partnerships with mining companies throughout the mining industry stages of mineral exploration, development, operation and mine closure

Real potential exists for aboriginal communities to greatly benefit unlike never before because of a mine being found and developed on their traditional and/or treaty lands provided they recognize this as an opportunity and embrace it.  Mining companies embarking upon an exploration program can have a measure of assurance in proceeding in their work successfully provided  they have prepared themselves properly for working with First Nations.

The mining industry today is very different than what it was as little as 20 years ago.  Strong environmental regulations and mine closure requirements are in place to protect the land, water and people from environmental contamination caused by mining-related activities. Aboriginal rights and their relation to land use for mining purposes are slowly being defined by the courts and decisions are being reflected in new legislation.  As time passes and being fueled by the high prices of metals and minerals, increasingly there will be interactions between mining companies and First Nations.  The recent court case involving Platinex vs. Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation highlights the need to approach mineral exploration in special and different manner among all stakeholders involved.

Northwestern and Northern Manitoba are characterized by a number of communities originally built in response to the development of a mine.  The geology of this vast area is such that the likelihood of another mine being discovered and brought into production is great.  The same area is also characterized by First Nation communities who have outstanding Treaty Land Entitlements.   Together, these forces may act together to suppress interests on part of Junior Mining Companies from conducting exploration, and automatically negate First Nations from sustaining the economic benefits accruing from mineral exploration through to mine cessation.  Certainly not all First Nations do not wish to have any mineral exploration or development on their traditional and/or treaty lands, and it is their right to this.  It is only prudent however, that these communities are first knowledgeable about the tremendous wealth generators that mines are, and how long standing issues confronting rural and isolated communities as poverty can be better addressed through more jobs and higher incomes, and how social and educational issues persistently challenging families and communities can also be better addressed with the prosperity generated from an operating mine.  New and powerful community and economic development opportunities are made possible because of a mine    

Practicing better practices related to respective aboriginal and mineral company interests is essential toward realizing an operating mine so all stakeholders can enjoy the benefits.  Industry associations and governments are recognizing the need to develop tools intended to provide a means to enable with more surety successful mineral exploration, development, production and mine closure outcomes.  One notable tool recently developed is the kit produced in partnership between Natural Resources Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, The Mining Association of Canada, and the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association (CAMA).   This kit provides examples of community experiences, positive relationships, and partnerships with mining companies. Further it outlines the regulatory process to ensure Aboriginal peoples are well informed of the economic, social and environmental effects, benefits and opportunities in making decisions.  To view this document, click here.  Other sources of information are found on the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's website accessed by clicking here.

It is our hope that the different cultures and perspectives between mining companies and aboriginal  organizations and leadership can be reconciled, so all can enjoy the benefits brought by mining.