Miners to consult Natives

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Native groups in northern Saskatchewan will have a say in how one mining company conducts its business.

A joint federal provincial environment review panel's recommendations to consult northern Native bands and communities over a surface lease agreement was given the green light by Environment and Public Safety Minister Bermy Wiens Feb. 5, after a three-week delay.

The review panel originally recommended the Cameco's $35-million McArthur River underground uranium exploration program proceed, but only under certain conditions.

The panel, recommended the drafting of a surface lease agreement involving the representation of First Nations peoples, including the Prince Albert Tribal council, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, the Saskatchewan Metis Association and the Aboriginal Women's Council for Saskatchewan. Several area communities to be included are Beuval, Hamlet of Wollaston, La Ronge, Patuanek, Pinehouse, Southend and Stoney Rapids.

The surface lease also included clauses concerning employment and training agreements for Natives, revenue sharing (including income protection for traditional land-uses), worker health and safety and environmental protection.

Wiens said Community Minister Carol Carson will soon initiate talks with northern residents and communities over a timetable to discuss the conditions of the surface lease.

"The joint panel gave us more than just environmental guidance on one mine site," he said. "The report recognizes the role of local communities in dealing with the impact of mining."

Prince Albert Tribal Council representative Allan Adam said Native groups in northern Saskatchewan want to be involved in the decision-making process.

"They still believe it's their land," he said. "Any development now and 'til the future, we want involvement in it."

The Prince Albert Tribal Council represents three groups in the region. The Hatchet Lake band, the Black Lake band and the Fond du Lac band all stand to be

directly affected by their close proximity to the project.

"They're extracting resources from people's back yards. North Saskatchewan is our community. Anything that happens here, we want a guarantee of jobs."

The underground exploration would involve sinking a single shaft and then driving tunnels above and below the uranium deposit, which is located about 500 metres below the surface, Cameco's Rita Mirwald said. No actual mining and removal of ore would be done unless the site proved to be a reliable source of quality uranium.

The underground exploration process is designed to obtain ore accurate core samples, not otherwise available from surface drilling.

If the site proves profitable, Cameco expects to mine the deposit over the next

20 years, Mirwald said.

The site is located about 300 kilometres north of La Ronge.