Case Study: Assembly of First Nations and PDAC MOU
PR Associates publicized the MOU internationally and to First Nations throughout Canada resulting in meaningful engagement and dialogue between responsible mining companies and First Nations.
The Need
PR Associates worked closely with National Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) to develop and publicize a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations to work together to ensure that First Nations share in the economic benefits of sustainable and responsible mining in Canada. The MOU intended to lay out the foundation for cooperation between the two organizations and highlight the Canadian mining industry’s responsibility to respect and engage First Nations.
The MOU addresses traditional rights of First Nations communities and establishes the guiding principles, including communication; the environment; social support; training, employment, contract opportunities; and education.
Our objective in partnering with the PDAC is the alleviation of First Nations’ poverty and the building of hope in our peoples. We believe First Nations need to sustain our recent momentum in business development, so we can best participate in sustainable mining.
The Results
Several initiatives have been born out of the AFN-PDAC MOU including the Aboriginal Mining Industry Human Resource Council and the PDAC E3 Plus framework for responsible mining. Since the MOU in 2008 almost 200 agreements between First Nations and mining companies in Canada have been signed to work cooperatively and respectfully, including the recent $30 million revenue share agreements between the New Afton Mine and the Tk’emlups First Nation and the Skeetchestn First Nation. In August 2010 a similar royalty revenue share agreement was signed with the McLeod Lake Indian Band.
PR Associates publicized the MOU internationally and to First Nations throughout Canada resulting in meaningful engagement and dialogue between responsible mining companies and First Nations.