The Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Phil Fontaine, and the chair of the Mining Association of Canada, Jim Gowans, signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen existing links between the two groups.
“First Nations are poised to be key players in the years and decades to come,” Fontaine said. “We want to work together towards greater certainty and sustainable mining developments that will contribute significantly to the economic, social and environmental well being of First Nations.”
Lake Shore Gold, Goldcorp, Xstrata Nickel and De Beers Canada, of which Gowans is the CEO and president, have all participated in working relationships with First Nations in the communities.
The Canadian Mining industry is the largest private sector employer of First Nations people, said Gowans. De Beers owns Northern Ontario’s first diamond mine, the Victor Mine, where the workforce consists of 40 per cent First Nations people.
Gowans said this agreement is preceded by other agreements across Canada, which include commitments on “hiring, training, business development and environmental practices.”
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