Business opportunities, training and a Dene-led environmental monitoring body are all parts of two impact benefit agreements (IBAs) Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation recently signed with NorZinc.
The company is behind the proposed Prairie Creek Mine that sits in a land carve-out within Nahanni National Park Reserve.
The community signed the agreements on Aug. 10. According to a news release, the new IBAs update a pre-existing agreement first negotiated in 2011 and establish a new one related to NorZinc’s proposed all-season road to the mine.
“The Dene of Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ never surrendered our land,” said LKFN Chief Gerald Antoine. “So, major development projects within our shared Dene territory, like the proposed Prairie Creek Mine and All-Season Road, need to ensure environmental protection of our lands and benefits for the Dene people. Dene involvement in environmental decision making and meaningful economic participation is key to reconciliation and the ultimate success of any project on Dene lands.”
The IBAs lay out upcoming business and training opportunities, Indigneous employment targets, and environmental oversight.
CKLB asked for additional information on these initiatives but an LKFN representative said they could not give any more detail.
“These agreements and the strong collaborative partnership with LKFN will see benefits flow directly to LKFN while respecting the land and culture of LKFN,” said Rohan Hazelton, NorZinc’s president and CEO.
According to the mine’s webpage, it is expected to last 15 years.
