First Nations Voice

PAGE 4 • FEBRUARY 2014 CONSTRUCTIONUNDERWAYSlowDownWhenPassingWorkersandEquipment EastSideRoad A U T H O R I T Y T heEastSideRoadAuthority(ESRA) remindsManitobansdrivingon winterroadsontheeastsideofLake Winnipegtoslowdownandbecareful nearconstructionworkersandequipment. Driversarealsoremindedtoexpect changesandimprovementsonthewinter roadsrelatedtoconstructionoftheall- seasonroadnetwork. "Withtheopeningofanewwinterroad season,localresidentsandtruckers shouldremembertokeepaneyeoutfor constructionworkersandequipment,"said SandraSmith,SafetyManagerofESRA. "Pleaseslowdown,followallsigns,anduse cautionwhenapproachingconstruction crewsandequipmentwhendrivingonthe winterroadsthisseason". Constructioncrewsandheavyequipment canbeexpectedanywhere,atanyandall times,alongwinterroadsincluding,butnot limitedto,thefollowinglocationsbetween Pr304andBerensRiverFirstNation: •bridgeconstructionovertheBloodvein River •brushclearing9kmsouthtothe BradburyRiver •culvertandroadwayconstruction 6kmnorthofBloodveinFirstNation AccessRoad •constructionattheBradburyRiver bridgesite •brushclearingfromapproximately 12kmsouthtothePigeonRiver Driversarealsoadvisedtoexpectchanges onthewinterroadnetworkatthefollowing locations: •newbridgesintheIslandLakeregion locatedatMainlandRiver,FeatherRapids andRedSuckerRiver WINTERROADSAFETYTIPS Hereareafewsafetytipstohelpyoustay safewhendrivingonManitoba'swinter roads: •Makesureyourvehicleisroadworthy. •Checkroadconditionsat www.gov.mb.ca/mit/roadinfo; orcalltheTravelInfoLineat511. •Pre-planyourtripandtellsomeonewhen youplantoarriveatyourdestination. •Dresswarmlyandcarryextragas,an emergencykitandasatellitephone. •Travelwithtwoormorevehicles, wheneverpossible. •Alwaysdrivercarefullyandfollowall signs. Formoreinformation,pleasevisit www.eastsideroadauthority.mb.ca;or contactESRAat: TheEastSideRoadAuthority 200–155CarltonStreet Winnipeg,MB R3C3H8 TollFree:1-866-356-6355 AdvertisingFeature The Minister's Min- ing Advisory Council was formed at the initiative of Minister Chomiak in Novem- ber, 2013, and was formally announced on November 8, 2013, after extensive discussions with sov- ereign Manitoba First Nation Chiefs. The Council has three (3) sets of stake- holders: sovereign First Nation Chiefs, the Manitoba government including the Minister of Mineral Resources, the Honorable David Chomiak, senior executives of Mining and Prospecting companies operating in the province of Manitoba and is chaired by my- self as Chief of Norway House Cree Nation and Chief Donavan Fontaine of Sagkeeng First Nation. The Council was established as a forum to deal effectively with the on-going setting of policy, regulation and control of the mining industry in Manitoba and to establish an ef- ficient and collaborative working relationship for First Nations with the Crown and with the private sector, thus providing certainty for all stakeholders. The priority issues at the present time in- clude revenue benefits sharing formulas, benefits agreements and the process vari- ables for Duty to Consult and Accommodate. The Council meets on a monthly basis and makes its recommendations by consensus; the first recommendations are expected to be generated by the February, 2014 meeting of the Council. The Council is expected to identify and establish policies, standards, principles and models for mining development that are sus- tainable, environmentally responsible [includ- ing abandoned mines] and recognize First Nation expertise and traditional knowledge. Most importantly, the purpose of the Coun- cil is to identify a roadmap of benefits and benefits agreements for the entire mining cycle that maximizes benefits and participa- tion for First Nations at all stages of the min- ing cycle. Equally important is the operational condition that the Council will, at all times and in all its considerations, work within all legal parameters, such as Section 35 of the Con- stitution Act. The significance of the Minister's Mining Advisory Council is that it provides a de- fined forum for direct and effective First Na- tion involvement in the setting of policy and standards, the definition of benefits and also meaningful participation in the control of the mining industry in Manitoba. Of primary im- portance are the social and economic ben- efits for First Nations including the opportu- nity to define benefits such as training and employment, procurement processes, equity and the formation of First Nation business entities. Given that mining is the second largest resource sector in Manitoba, with 40 com- panies actively participating in mineral explo- ration and mining and employing more than 900 Aboriginal and First Nations workers, the work of the advisory council is important as it will develop meaningful consultation pro- cesses and build stronger, more respectful relationships with First Nation communities. Being at the table will ensure a strong voice for communities, employment and economic opportunities for our people and ensure that we receive equitable benefits from mining done in our territories. Ensuring First Nations Benefit from Resource Development through the establishment of the Minister's Mining Advisory Council Chief Ron Evans Norway House Cree Nation We have BATTERIES for all YOUR NEEDS! Auto, truck, RV, Marine, Motorcycle\ATV Alkaline, UPS, Alarm System, Recycling G 10 Keenleyside St Winnipeg, Mb. R2L 2B9 204-694-2999 800-665-2999 Call us for dealer near you Interstate Batteries of Manitoba • Level1FireFighting Practices • EmergencyMedical Practices • HazardousMaterials Training • FirstAid&CPR • FireExtinguisher Training • FirePrevention& Awareness • Emergency Management Operations • GroundSearch (GSAR)&Rescue • "Gettingto knowfire"program Formoreinformation emailinfo@manff.ca orvisitmanff.ca WhoisMANFF?

• Cover