Back row, left to right: Chad Pearson, Nelson Montreuil,
Richard Sarrazin, Mike Sweeney, Denis Tremblay. Front
row, left to right: Peter Xavier, France Picotte, Juliette S.
Denis, Doug Conroy.
On January 28, 2016, the Métis Nation of Ontario (“MNO”) and Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations, a Glencore Company (“Glencore INO”), formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to guide their working relationship. Through the identification of common interests, the MOU sets out how the local rights-bearing Métis community, as represented by the MNO-Mattawa/Lake Nipissing Regional Consultation Committee, will work with Glencore INO to be kept regularly updated and informed about their operations located in the Sudbury basin.
“This agreement is very important to the Métis people,” explained France Picotte, Chair of the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO). “It is a first of its kind because it is not tied to any Environmental Assessment process or legal Duty to Consult requirements, but rather is designed to increase the capacity of the MNO, so, that it can be effectively engaged on Glencore INO’s current operations within the Sudbury basin. The MNO is pleased to continue working with Glencore and to further developing our relationship with Glencore. Agreements like this one are another benefit that we see coming from the MNO-Ontario Framework Agreement, which was first signed in 2008 and renewed in 2014,” she added.
MNO Regional Councillor Juliette S. Denis, Chair of the Mattawa/Lake Nipissing Regional Consultation Committee, commented: “This MOU demonstrates Glencore’s commitment to collaborate with the surrounding regional rights-bearing Métis community to build a long-lasting and positive relationship. Our community is very proud of the relationship that we have built with Glencore. We see this relationship as an opportunity to foster new opportunities for collaborating while working together to protect our traditional values and way of life. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with Glencore.”
Published on: February 3, 2016