Pre-Christmas court hearing held over controversial gold play

A First Nation got its day in court to stop a gold exploration play in northeastern Ontario.

Wahgoshig First Nation petitioned an Ontario Superior Court in Toronto, Dec. 20, to stop gold exploration drilling at Solid Gold's Lake Abitibi property.

In seeking an injunction, Wahgoshig First Nation accuses Solid Gold Resources of conducting exploration without first seeking permission from the community, located east of Matheson. The First Nation claims exploration drilling is occurring on land that is host to ancient burial grounds and other cultural sites.

The junior miner has a 200-square-kilometre land package near the Quebec border.

Both sides confirmed the day-long hearing was extensive and ran into the evening. A decision is expected by the end of January.

In a release, Wahgoshig Chief David Babin was “cautiously optimistic” the court will respect their rights. The First Nation said they first discoverered the activity last spring when community members found the company 'by accident.'

The company states it's business as usual at the drilling site, known as its SG 09 discovery.

In a Dec. 21 statement, company president Darryl Stretch said the First Nation is seeking the “power to deny resource companies access to the Crown land absent the First Nation's consent.”