Nickel Belt News Volume 62 • Issue 08
Friday, February 25, 2022
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Agreement between Norway House Cree Nation and nickel mining company could result in millions of dollars of economic benefits
A company that hopes to establish an open pit nickel mine about 100 kilometres north of Grand Rapids has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Norway House Cree Nation (NHCN). The signing of the MOU with NHCN will allow the Minago nickel project to move forward, says Flying Nickel Mining Corporation, a wholly owned spinoff of Silver Elephant Mining Corp. Silver Elephant bought the property from former owners Victory Nickel last year. The MOU outlines the terms and conditions that form the basis of a relationship and impact benefits agreement with NHCN and with other First Nations in the area. Victory Nickel signed a memorandum of understanding with Misipawistik Cree Nation at Grand Rapids, Mosakahiken Cree Nation at Moose Lake and Pimicikamak Cree Nation at Cross Lake in 2007 and Flying Nickel says on its website that it is re-engaging with the First Nations to work toward renewal of that MOU. Located near Highway 6 and a Manitoba Hydro transmission line as well as the Hudson Bay Railway line, the Minago project could produce as much at 37.5 million pounds of nickel per year once operational, Flying Nickel says. The MOU identifies NHCN and other First Nations as the company’s first choice suppliers for employment, goods and services estimated at $100 million per year and there is potential for First Nations to earn $40 million or more over 10 years. “The nation is committed to principles of economic sustainability, environmental stewardship, and self-determination that respects the NHCN Resource Management Area and its resources,” said Chief Larson Anderson of NHCN, which is also working with the federal government to add to their reserve lands near Minago to facilitate economic development. “Working with forward looking councillors has enabled our nation to establish a cooperative and mutually respectful longterm relationship with Flying Nickel Mining in keeping with the principles outlined in this MOU.” Flying Nickel says it is committed to environmentally responsible exploration and development and that the mine will create over 100 jobs during the early development phase and up to 450 jobs once it be-
Nickel Belt News image courtesy Silver Elephant Mining Corp A company hoping to develop an open pit nickel mine near Highway 6 north of Grand Rapids has signed an agreement with Norway House Cree Nation. come fully operational. quarry project at the site to make providing low-emission cement tain financing and complete NHCN hopes to work with use of low carbon dioxide dolo- for the Manitoba and Saskatch- construction from 2023 to 2025 the provincial government to mite, which will be a byproduct ewan markets. and then begin producing nickel establish a training program to of the mining. They estimate The nickel project still has concentrate in 2026. The commatch its members with train- that the jointly owned operation an Environment Act Licence pany believes there could be ing opportunities to meet the could produce up to 11 million from 2011 that will be valid more than a billion pounds of project’s employment needs. tonnes of limestone per year once a 2014 notice of alteration nickel-containing resources in Flying Nickel and NHCN and have a 10-year earning po- to the waste rock management the area, more than a third of have agreed to collaborate on tential of approximately $450 tailings facility is complete. which are accessible via open the development of a limestone million for NHCN while also Flying Nickel is hoping to ob- pit mining.