to ensure that local communities have significant input throughout the entire process. “Nunavut is broken into three areas and there is one land claim that covers all of Nunavut,” explains Mr. Pickard. “The claim was ratified by the federal government of Canada and the Inuit of Nunavut. There is an Inuit organization, which in this case is the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, which is the primary quasi-government that we deal with within the region. There are seven communities which are also in the area of the project, although
they’re hundreds of kilometres away and not in close proximity.” Sabina Gold and Silver Corp. run an incredibly transparent operation in Nunavut and make a point of listening to the concerns of the local Inuit organization. They also invite members of the Community Working Groups to tour the mining sites and voice any concerns they may have. It is important to note that these Community Working Groups essentially have no screening process, meaning that the company does not discriminate between pro-mining and anti-mining
parties and has no objections to sceptical community members assessing the project for themselves. This level of cooperation with the Inuit communities is indispensable to the project’s team and helps drastically increase their ability to alleviate the risk of significant environmental impacts. Mr. Pickard explains that the local people help the Back River Gold Project remain ecologically sustainable. “When we look at work in Northern Canada, especially in Nunavut proper, there is a lack of scientific data, general publically available scientific
MATTHEW PICKARD, VICE PRESIDENT, ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, PRESENTS AT AN OPEN HOUSE IN KUGLUKTUK.
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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