Uranium giants, First Nation reach agreement

Cameco Corp. and Areva Resources Canada Inc. have reached a $600-million deal with English River First Nation that supports their mining operations and drops a lawsuit over land near the proposed Millennium project. Most of the money is to flow to the First Nation over 10 years through contracts with band-owned businesses and wages to band members, who are expected to work at the mines and on community development projects. The community will also be receiving direct payments for education, health, sports and recreation programs. English River Vice-Chief Marie Black said the deal will help the band become self-sufficient and less reliant on federal funding. The agreement says the First Nation will drop a lawsuit it filed in 2008 against the Saskatchewan government over land the band claimed under the 1992 Treaty Land Entitlement Framework. CP reports that some English River members are worried about the environmental consequences of more uranium mining in the area and claim a decision on the deal was made by band council without a community vote.