Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1211970
S pring 2020 13 PHOTOS: (TOP) RYAN VERSLOOT; (BOTTOM) COURTESY P. JERRY ASP Partners in Development How First Nations across Canada are working with explorers and miners to everyone's benefit By PETER CAULFIELD T here are many accomplished Indigenous leaders in Canada who have contributed in important ways to the development of this country's mineral exploration and mining industry. In fact, there are too many to cite in one brief article. In the space provided, allow us to draw your attention to just two of them. In British Columbia, P. Jerry Asp is one of Western Canada's best known Indigenous leaders and an advocate for including First Nations in the exploration, development and mining industry. "Mineral exploration and mining occur in remote areas of the country, within no more than 150 kilometres of an aboriginal community," says Asp. "Proximity means big savings for explorers and miners, because they have a ready-made work force near their worksites." Originally from Telegraph Creek and now living in Whitehorse, Asp started working as a driller when he was only 16. He worked at a number of mines, including the Tantalus Butte coal mine in Yukon, where he also served as president of the only all-Indigenous United Steelworkers local in North America. Tired of toiling outdoors in the cold, Asp decided to go back to school. After taking courses in project management and project development, he launched a new career in the business side of the minerals industry. Asp co-founded the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association, helped set P. Jerry Asp