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FIRST NATIONS POSE THE
biggest hurdle to the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline, says Enbridge president and CEO Pat Daniel. He made the comment at an investor conference in Whistler Jan. 20. He said First Nations may lack the numbers, but their opposition to the twin pipeline is vocal and influential. “As we all know in Canada, First Nations have got a lot of power and the opposition is primarily to the tanker traffic, not so much to the pipeline, but to the tanker traffic off the West Coast.” Daniel did say, however, he is still optimistic that Northern Gateway will go ahead. Enbridge just needs to follow the consultation process and present its arguments in a logical manner, and Ottawa will play a role, he said. “As long as we’ve got the very strong federal government and, I think, general Canadian support of broadening out our markets then we will ultimately be successful. But it’s going to be a challenge.” In November 2010, Enbridge offered a 10 per cent equity stake in the project to First Nations and Daniel says that is starting to generate interest.
THE DENINU K’UE FIRST NATION
wants De Beers to pay them for the Snap Lake Mine operation in the Northwest Territories. Deninu K’ue are members of the Akaitcho Dene Treaty 8 First Nations and the only one without an Impact Benefit Agreement. This may be because they are located too far away from the mine site, located 220 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife. Chief Louis Balsillie believes the First Nation, located northeast of Fort Resolution, still has the right to compensation. Anthropologist Linda Vanden Berg agrees. She spent two years researching the history of Deninu K’ue and concludes the nation is entitled. “Lutsel K’e (which has a benefits agreement) and Deninu K’ue band members are descended from the same ancestors,” she said. “Identical ancestors. How do you say that you’re going to do an Impact Benefits Agreement with one and not the other group?” De Beers bases its decision on which communities to enter into agreements with on many things, including historical occupancy of the land, treaties, land claims.
THE MUNSEE DELAWARE NATION
is taking a big step forward in its bid to establish an accredited First Nations Forestry Training Program after receiving start-up funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Future Fund. The First Nation community located southwest of London will receive a four-year, $531,000 grant from the foundation to help cover the costs of developing and delivering the forestry program. “This funding is going to help us give our young people the foothold they need to take advantage of today’s emerging green economy,” said Munsee Delaware Chief Patrick Waddilove. “Without (the foundation), we could not have raised the kind of seed capital needed to get this project off the ground,” he added. The two-year forestry program will help 25 First Nations students from across Ontario become accredited forester technicians, enabling them to secure highly skilled jobs in the bio-mass, carbon credit and sustainable forestry industries. It will be delivered from two locations: the Anishinabek Educational Institute at Munsee Delaware and the Seven Generations Education Institute at Couchiching First Nation, near Fort Frances. Classes are expected to begin this fall.
MATAWA FIRST NATION IN ONTARIO
has hired a co-ordinator to ensure its 8,500 members don’t miss out on developments in terms of employment, long-term human resource development in a variety of sectors, business opportunities and revenue sharing in the Ring of Fire mining zone. The Ring of Fire zone, about 200 kilometres north of Nakina, is believed to host enough chromite and nickel to employ hundreds of miners for at least 30 years. Cleveland-based Cliffs Natural Resources is planning to begin mining three major deposits of chromite, a main ingredient in the manufacture of stainless steel, by 2015. The province has announced plans to hire an “Aboriginal stakeholder relations director” to identify partnership opportunities in the Ring of Fire zone.
THE FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS
have announced a two-year program to help First Nations develop or expand forestry operations. On the table is $1.2 million which is being provided for the First Nations Forest Sector Technical Support Program. Participants will be provided with technical advice and hands-on expertise, such as best practices in harvesting, transportation, equipment selection, mill layout, manufacturing, market intelligence and market opportunities. “The Technical Support Program directly addresses several recommendations in the 2009 report by the Working Roundtable on Forestry, particularly the goal of supporting First Nations in becoming full partners in forestry,” said B.C. Minister of Forests Mines and Lands, Pat Bell. “We’re pleased to be working closely with the federal government towards that goal.” Over a two-year period, the Technical Support Program will expand the number of First Nation bands and businesses involved in forest and wood products industries, as well as increase employment within First Nation communities. Industry experts with FPInnovations, the world’s largest private, not-for-profit forest research institute, will supply information and guidance to First Nations businesses. The First Nations Forest Sector Technical Support Program is the type of program needed by First Nations and First Nation entrepreneurs interested in developing or expanding a forest and wood products business, said Chief Bill Williams, president of the First Nations Forestry Council. “This program will help ensure we build successful First Nation forest businesses and sustainable communities.”
Miawpukek Band Government establish a trust whose objective is to support strategic economic development for the community,” said Minister Ashfield.” Specifically, the funding will enable the trust to engage expert advice to refine and help implement a revenue development strategy, develop a marketing and publicity campaign and assist the trust in gaining charitable status. The First Nation’s Trust of Newfoundland and Labrador was established by the Miawpukek First Nation to foster and promote, through education, the preservation and growth of the culture, language, history, beliefs and spirituality of the Mi’kmaq people of Newfoundland and Labrador. A three-member board of directors will oversee the operation of the First Nations Trust. The board includes Saqamaw M’isel Joe as chair, Tammy Drew as secretary/treasurer and Phillip Jeddore as director. A volunteer advisory board will provide additional direction and support.
Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. has entered into a project agreement with the Lhtako Dene Nation (Red Bluff Indian Band) of Quesnel, B.C. The parties will mutually benefit in the development of Barkerville’s 100 per cent-owned Bonanza Ledge Property located in the Cariboo Mining District of British Columbia. The agreement is a multi-year arrangement providing for preferential contracting, employment and training provisions, academic incentives, environmental review participation, and other economic benefits from the Bonanza Ledge Project, subject to permitting approvals and the company’s decision to commence production at the Bonanza Ledge property.
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