Norway House Cree Nation and Manitoba sign the official Protocol to guide the proposed Victory Nickel Minago Project
June 1, 2011
by NationTalk on June 1, 2011
A Crown Consultation on Mining
For immediate release, May 30, 2011
Norway House, MB - On May 30, 2011, accompanied by a song of honor and the beat of a traditional drum, Minister Chomiak, Acting Chief Saunders and the Council of the NHCN were greeted by Members of the Cree Nation who gathered to witness the ceremonial signing of the jointly developed NHCN-Manitoba Crown Consultation Protocol on the proposed Victory Nickel Minago Mining Project. Followed by a feast of traditional foods provided by members of the NHCN Band, the menu of fish, ducks and geese was served to guests from Manitoba and Victory Nickel. Acting Chief Nick Saunders stated “The feast was a good reminder of the direct value and reliance of the Norway House Cree Nation upon its natural resources”. 
The Minago Project is a proposed Class 2 metal mining development of Victory Nickel Inc. involving construction and operation of a new 10,000 tonnes per day nickel ore open pit mining and milling development located within the Norway House Cree Nation Consultation Area.
Led by a Consultation Group comprised of NHCN Band Members and a joint planning team of NHCN and Manitoba representatives, the Minago Protocol includes protection of rights and interests of NHCN members, the use of water, the protection of hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering activities, and the preservation of wildlife, waterfowl, fish and their respective habitats; including protection of Northern Flood Agreement &Treaty Land Entitlement rights and interests.
A final draft of the Minago protocol was agreed upon March 25, 2011 and initiated the consultation process to take place from April 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011. The first actual joint planning meeting began April 15, 2011 and Environmental Impact Statement information was presented to Band members on May 24 & 25, 2011. As a result, NHCN requested 6 weeks additional consultation time and funding from Manitoba to provide more opportunity for Band members’ responses and anticipates receiving a favorable response from Manitoba.
Located about 850 kilometers north of Winnipeg, Norway House Cree Nation is one of the largest First Nations in Manitoba with an on reserve population of over 5,500 people.
For more information contact NHCN at (204) 359 6786, or at nhcncc@nhcn.ca
