Chief Larson Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation (NHCN) and Dan Oosterman, President of Flying Nickel Mining Corporation (FNM) are pleased to announce the signing of a Relationship and Benefit Memo of Understanding (MOU) that will allow the Minago Nickel Project to move forward.
The MOU outlines the terms and conditions that form the basis of a Relationship and Impact Benefits Agreement. The agreement aims to create the lowest environmental impact Nickel mine in the world, while ensuring that Norway House and neighbouring First Nations enjoy economic and employment benefits of the project.
Once fully operational, the mine could produce 37.5M pounds of nickel per year. Four First Nations have signed a Mineral Exploration and Development cooperation MOU to share the benefits of mineral development with a direct earning potential in excess of $40M over ten years for the First Nations. Benefits from this project would see Norway House Cree Nation and other local First Nations as the “first choice supplier” for employment, goods and services estimated at $100 million per year.
Chief Larson Anderson, Norway House Cree Nation, commented that “the Nation is committed to principles of economic sustainability, environmental stewardship, and self-determination that respects the NHCN Resource Management Area and its resources.
Working with forward looking Councilors has enabled our Nation to establish a cooperative and mutually respectful long-term relationship with Flying Nickel Mining in keeping with the principles outlined in this MOU.”
The First Nation is also working with the federal government to add to their reserve land near this development to facilitate this economic development.
Flying Nickel Mining is committed to environmentally responsible mineral exploration and development, which includes respect for the environment using the latest mining technologies and mineral processing and maximizing Manitoba’s northern renewable electricity generation to power the Project.
A combination of jobs and training are also included with this mining operation. It anticipated that over 100 jobs will be created during early development of the mine and limestone operations. Up to 450 jobs are anticipated once the mine becomes fully operational. We are approaching the Provincial Government to establish a training program to match Nation members with training opportunities to meet employment needs and maximize opportunities for Norway House Cree Nation members and other local First Nations.
A by-product of the mining project is low CO2 Dolomite (a cleaner version of limestone). FNM and NHCN have agreed to collaborate to develop a Limestone Quarry Project based at the Minago Project site. It is estimated that this jointly-owned operation could produce up to 11 million tons of limestone per year with a 10-year earning potential of approximately $450M for Norway House First Nation. This could facilitate the creation of a low emitting cement available in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The Minago Nickel Project is located adjacent to Manitoba Provincial Highway 6, approximately 225 km south of Thompson and 100 km north of Grand Rapids, Manitoba, and is within the Nation’s Resource Management Area.
