Sharing graphite mine wealth

June 27, 2013

Ellerton Castor Ontario Graphite Limited, Councillor Pat Brennan - Henvey Inlet FN, Chief Warren Tabobondung - Wasauksing FN, Chief Wayne McQuabbie Henvey - Inlet FN, Ray Kagagins - Henvey Inlet FN, Chief Denise Restoule - Dokis FN, Elder Joyce Tabobondung - Wasauksing FN , Michael Chomyshyn Wasauksing FN. — Ellerton Castor Ontario Graphite Limited, Councillor Pat Brennan – Henvey Inlet FN, Chief Warren Tabobondung – Wasauksing FN, Chief Wayne McQuabbie Henvey – Inlet FN, Ray Kagagins – Henvey Inlet FN, Chief Denise Restoule – Dokis FN, Elder Joyce Tabobondung – Wasauksing FN , Michael Chomyshyn Wasauksing FN.

By Marlene Bilous

HENVEY INLET FN – The communities of Wasauksing, Dokis and Henvey Inlet signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ontario Graphite Limited (OGL) on June 19 to facilitate the re-activation of the Kearney Graphite mine in Kearney Township.

Chief Wayne McQuabbie of Henvey Inlet First Nation said that this is an opportunity to set the stage for a precedent by having First Nations involved with this project to deal with the proponent in a joint fashion to obtain future benefits for Anishinabek citizens.

Ontario Graphite Limited purchased an abandoned mine site which is believed to contain “the best quality flake graphite in North America” and began meeting with the Highway 69 corridor First Nations in the fall of 2011.

The primary concern of the Magnetawan, Henvey Inlet, Wasauksing and Dokis First Nations was the protection of their environment because the former owners of the mine were charged with polluting the environment, especially the water in the Magnetawan River and the effects are still being felt today. The Chiefs worked closely with the Ministry of the Environment to ensure that their waters, lands and air quality and quantity were protected before consenting to the awarding of environmental permits. Magnetawan and Shawanaga First Nations previously signed individual MOUs with the company.

Chief Warren Tabobondung of Wasauksing said: “We need to approach this project in a collective fashion and collaborate on how to ensure long term benefits for all of our members.”

The Chiefs negotiated the MOU with the intent of creating and obtaining jobs, training, procurement opportunities and secure measures necessary to obtain a continuing revenue stream for their citizens. They also agreed to begin negotiations on an Impact Benefit Agreement in the near future as a means to obtaining and formalizing their goals for present and future generations

Chief Denise Restoule of Dokis First Nation said: “We are entitled to sharing the resource revenue generated from our traditional territories in the Robinson Huron Treaty area.”

Ontario Graphite Limited has announced that it is scheduled to open the mine in the fall of 2013 and create about 80 jobs. The company pointed out that it would like to hire local workers to fill about 60 of the positions.