MBiz

27 SUMMER 2024 areas that have not been cleaned up. We're worried about our environ- ment.' And then you'll have some communities that say we would con- sider it, but we want to become real partners and share in the equity." Norway House Cree Nation (NHCN) has successfully fallen into the latter category, having recently secured funding from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund (MMDF) to acquire its own mining camp. MMDF is a $20-million provincial fund administered by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. The pur- pose of MMDF is to grow the mineral development industry and stimulate economic development in northern Manitoba by providing grant funding to projects that benefit Manitoba's economy and local communities alike, with a focus on projects related to the mining supply chain. Not only will the camp create doz- ens of jobs and additional revenue streams for the 9,000-person nation, but it will also set the stage for future partnerships with mining companies and critical mineral explorations in the North. Chief Larson Anderson of NHCN strongly believes visiting mining companies will benefit from utilizing already at-hand assets such as the camps. He says NHCN also can ex- ecute drilling and build roads and is constantly exploring potential ways to work with outside groups. "We need to find a way to create employment and have better invest- ments that will go a long way into developing our nation," Anderson says. "We're not open completely. Not just anyone comes into our ter- ritory. We have a very strong belief that mining companies can be more successful when they work with us. That means utilizing what assets we have that they would require. We're no different than anyone else in the world. We want work." Last year, NHCN signed an Impact and Benefit Agreement with Flying Nickel Mining Corp. to advance the development of the Minago Nickel Project located in the Thompson nickel belt while ensuring environ- mental protection and creating jobs and contract opportunities. NHCN will also see a potentially multi- million-dollar profit in one year alone from Flying Nickel's revenue at Minago since they also own 19.9 per cent of the company's shares. PHOTO SUPPLIED BY MINING ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA INC "We need to find a way to create employment and have better investments that will go a long way into developing our nation." – Chief Larson Anderson of NHCN Chief Larson Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew SUBMITTED PHOTOS

• Cover