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28 SUMMER 2024 CRITICAL MINERALS CONT. Vale Base Metals geologists examine core at a remote helicopter-accessed drill site. SUBMITTED PHOTO NHCN's progressive approach and dedication to accountability have helped it gain the respect of the com- panies it has joined forces with so far — while setting an example of what good can come when both parties work together. "We didn't want to be under the same messaging as most First Nations in this country where companies come in, take what they want and leave," Anderson says. "As a First Nation, you have to start considering what you're giving up and what you can try to do to achieve as much as that revenue for your nation." Another neighbouring Cree Nation very recently followed suit, forging a partnership with mining company Vale Base Metals, whose Manitoba operations are based in Thompson. "We formally announced a new exploration agreement with Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN), on whose traditional territory we operate," says Stacy Kennedy, Vale's director of Manitoba operations. The agreement includes commitments to regular meetings partnership, pref- erential consideration for qualified NCN businesses and employment through the exploration program, an environmental monitoring program led by NCN and a financial commitment. "It's the first step towards a broader agreement between Vale Base Metals and the community of NCN that we will be discussing in the coming year. It's important that northern Manitoba and Indigenous communities benefit economically from critical minerals, creating jobs and prosperity through the mining industry." Kennedy says reconciliation is high on Vale's priority list, and educating current employees is crucial at this stage to keep their ties with northern communities strong. "We're privileged to have a strong relationship with many Indigenous organizations in Thompson, and we want to deepen our relationships with communities in our surrounding region. There are huge opportunities surrounding critical minerals in north- ern Manitoba, and we want to ensure Indigenous communities are part of the critical minerals boom." While environmental concerns will always be a factor in reconciliation, mining companies such as Vale are invested in protecting the North. They currently have a world-class en- vironmental management program to protect the wildlife, land and water quality surrounding their operation, Kennedy says. "We've been proactively remediat- ing decommissioned areas within our sites while recycling the byproducts to yield critical minerals like copper and residual nickel," she says. "Our clay-capping operations also work with a local beekeeper to support pollination and revegetation in our tailings area and throughout our operation: last year, we gifted our employees 700 jars of Thompson honey, harvested directly from hives on our site." There are huge opportunities surrounding critical minerals in northern Manitoba, and we want to ensure Indigenous communities are part of the critical minerals boom." – Stacy Kennedy, director, Manitoba operations, Vale "

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