Participants in the MNO-Canadian Malartic Signing
Ceremony in Fort Frances: Back row (l-r): Marlene
Davidson, President of the MNO Atikokan Métis Council;
Clint Calder, President of the MNO Sunset Country Métis
Council; Joel Henley, President of the MNO Kenora Métis
Council; Ron Robinson, President of the MNO Dryden Métis
Council. Front row (l-r) Guy Gosselin, Vice-President,
Exploration, Agnico Eagle Mines; Daniel Racine, Senior
Vice-President, Northern Operations, Yamana Gold; Gary
Lipinski, MNO President; and Theresa Stenlund, PCMNO
Councillor for Region 1. Canadian Malartic Corporation (“Canadian Malartic”), as represented by Vice Presidents Daniel Racine and Guy Gosselin, and the Métis Nation of Ontario (“MNO”), as represented by MNO President Gary Lipinski and local Métis leadership, formally announced a Shared Interest Agreement (the “Agreement”) with respect to the development and operation of the Hammond Reef Gold Project near Atikokan, Ontario. The local MNO leaders participating in the signing ceremony were: Theresa Stenlund, MNO Region 1 Councillor on the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO); Joel Henley, President of the MNO Kenora Métis Council; Marlene Davidson, President of the MNO Atikokan Métis Council; Clint Calder, President of the MNO Sunset Country Métis Council; and Ron Robinson, President of the MNO Dryden Métis Council. A signing ceremony was held at the Sunset Country Métis community hall in Fort Frances followed by a fish fry and entertainment, including, Métis jiggers and fiddling.
The Agreement includes provisions on how the local Métis community will benefit from the development of the Hammond Reef Gold Project and throughout the life of the mine, including employment and business opportunities, training and education initiatives, community and cultural supports and financial participation in the project. The Agreement also incorporates processes that reflect the shared commitment of Canadian Malartic and MNO in protecting the environment and wildlife, and building a long term, mutually beneficial relationship.
Vice Presidents Daniel Racine and Guy Gosselin stated, “We are very pleased that the team has been able to finalize this agreement, as a reflection of our long term work with the Métis at Hammond Reef. This is a proud day for Canadian Malartic as we honour our key principles of contributing to communities and respecting the environment. The partnership we have cultivated with the Métis Nation of Ontario has been an integral part of the Hammond Reef Gold Project. We are honoured to call the Métis our partners and know that our relationship will result in a stronger project overall.”
MNO President, Gary Lipinski, stated, “The MNO is proud of the positive relationship that has been built with Canadian Malartic that has led to this Agreement. We believe the Hammond Reef Gold Project will bring much needed economic opportunity to the region as a whole, while also respecting the Métis community’s rights and interests. We see this as a ‘win-win’ for everyone.”
Theresa Stenlund, the MNO Regional Councillor for the Treaty 3 territory, emphasized, “Our community is pleased that our ongoing efforts in attempting to build a meaningful and lasting relationship in relation to this project have reached this point. I want to thank our citizens for their support as well as the volunteer efforts of the local and regional Métis leadership who made this Agreement a reality.”
About the Project
The Hammond Reef Gold Project is located 23 kilometres northeast of the Town of Atikokan and 200 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The project is a large deposit that has an open-pit recovery potential.
About Canadian Malartic
Canadian Malartic is jointly owned by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (50%) and Yamana Gold Inc. (50%).