Mineral Exploration

Spring 2015

Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.

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S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 25 "In some cases, this trust and under- standing happens quite quickly, and in other cases they may take a long time. The true test of a good agreement is an enduring relationship." Kemess Underground AuRico Gold's Kemess Underground project (KUG) is located approximately 5.5 kilometres north of the Kemess South mine, which operated from 1998 until 2011 in north-central British Columbia. During its lifetime, the Kemess South mine produced almost three million ounces of gold and more than 700 mil- lion pounds of copper. KUG is located within the traditional territories of the Takla Lake First Nation and the Tsay Keh Dene Nation, and adja- cent to and downstream of the traditional territory of the Kwadacha Nation. The Gitxsan House of Nii Kyap traditional territory lies adjacent to the KUG project area along its western boundary. There are Metis communities in the region and the project is located within the Treaty 8 disputed area. Collaborative discussions between AuRico and the First Nations directly affected by the project have been tak- ing place over the past number of years. Discussions were initiated with First Nations that are less impacted by the project at the start of the environmental assessment process. Susan Craig, AuRico's director of government affairs and community rela- tions, says it's important for the company to have good working relationships with the local First Nations. "AuR ico has signed an Interim Measures Agreement with a First Nations entity called Tse Keh Nay," Craig says. "Tse Keh Nay is a collaboration of three First Nations in the area: Takla Lake, Tsay Keh Dene and Kwadacha." T he I nt e r i m M e a s u r e s Agreement (IMA) is a co-operative agreement that covers advanced exploration and construction on the KUG project. The IMA cre- ated a Senior Implementation Committee that is made up of AuRico representatives and the chiefs of the three First Nations. The committee meets monthly to oversee the implementation of the IMA. A n Environmental Management Committee, made up of the representa- tives of each First Nation and AuRico, also meets regularly to communicate and co-ordinate with the parties about the ongoing and proposed environmen- tal studies to be undertaken, as well as to provide general project updates. "The agreement was signed in June 2012 after 14 meetings between the First Nations and AuRico beginning in 2010," says Craig. The next item of business for the parties to deal with is the negotiation of an Impact and Benefit Agreement. ■ Field trip: Tse Keh Nay community visit to the Kemess site. Photograph : AuRico Gold Omega Communications.indd 1 15-02-05 9:25 AM

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