Signatories of the MNO/Treasury Metals MOU: front (left-
right): MNO President Margaret Froh, Treasury Metals
President and CEO Chris Stewart, Provisional Council of
the Métis Nation of Ontario Region 1 Councilor Theresa
Stenlund. Back (left-right): MNO Sunset Country Métis
Council President Brady Hupet, MNO Kenora Métis Council
President Joel Henley, MNO Atikokan Métis Council
President Marlene Davidson and MNO Northwest Métis
Council President Ron Robinson. Click here for larger
picture.On December 11, 2017, Treasury Metals signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) in relation to the company’s Goliath Gold Project, east of Dryden in Northwestern Ontario.
The MOU is considered a framework cooperation agreement with the MNO, including the MNO Atikokan, Kenora, Northwest and Sunset Country Métis Councils, which represent the regional rights-bearing Métis communities in the Treaty 3 area. That area takes in the Métis traditional territories of Lake of the Woods, Lac Seul, Rainy River and Rainy Lake.
The MOU provides the Métis community with an opportunity to participate in the project through employment, training, business development and ongoing consultation involving the mining project.
In her remarks at the signing, Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO) Region 1 Councilor and Chair of the MNO Region 1 Consultation Committee Theresa Stenlund explained: “The Métis community depends on the lands, waters and resources of our traditional territory for our physical and spiritual well-being . . . The agreement signing today is very important to the Métis people for the protection of our Métis rights and interests and our way-of-life in the Dryden area as well as the region more generally . . . This agreement recognizes the unique and distinct needs of the Métis people.”
In her remarks, MNO President Margaret Froh praised the Regional Consultation Committee for its hard work in making the agreement a reality and commented on the strength of the local Métis communities in Northwestern Ontario. “This is about creating opportunity and it is about creating wealth for the region in a way that respects Métis rights,” she said. “I look forward to hearing all about the prosperity as we move forward,” she concluded.
“Our objective is to work together with all of our stakeholders and Indigenous communities as we work towards bringing the Goliath Gold Project into production,” said Treasury Metals President-CEO Chris Stewart. “We are looking forward to working with the Métis Community. Their experience and local knowledge will be invaluable in helping us create a socially responsible project that will benefit the communities, the project, and all stakeholders as we move forward,” he added.
Treasury Metals’ cornerstone development is the Goliath Gold Project, a future open-pit and underground gold mine, 20 kilometres east of Dryden.
The company is working on a feasibility study for Goliath while undertaking a 30,000-metre drilling program. Treasury’s schedule shows mine construction beginning in 2019 with gold production starting a year later.
Posted: December 20, 2017