President’s Message 2010

Click Here for our 2010 PDF brochure.

Conference Concept 2010

Winnipeg, Manitoba

“Seeking Consent, Securing Resources"

Moving forward with Joint Aboriginal community Mining Industry decision-making through Resource Access and Benefit Agreements

With the global economy improving, metal and commodity prices are increasing. Resource companies are gaining access to capital markets and securing funds to explore, develop and produce minerals to meet global demand. It has been clearly established that Aboriginal communities and resource companies use common lands for often opposing uses and differing values. Aboriginal communities maintain a residual and ongoing right to use lands ceded by them through treaties, while resource companies also have a right to access and use these same lands for mineral development through legislation. This conflict brings about a relationship which must now go beyond mere consultation.

Aboriginal communities are also responding to an expanding mineral industry by requiring the notification, consulting and the consent of the community to the company to access, explore and develop mineral deposits depending on the impact on community lands, people and resources. An agreement between the Aboriginal community and mining company, whether it be as simple as a Memorandum of Understanding or some other resource access and benefits agreement, such as an Impact and Benefit or Participation Agreement, are now viewed as an instrument of consent. The agreement provides the Aboriginal consent to the mining company to proceed, subject to certain terms and conditions.

“Seeking Consent, Securing Resources” is about the acceptance that communities would like to provide their consent to projects based on sound information, community education and net benefits to the community. It is through formal agreements that consent is now reached and it is also accepted now that through these agreements resource companies are securing access to resources. In Canada, there are now more than 150 such agreements. In the next decade will Aboriginal communities and resource companies move from talking about consultation to evolving forms of consent?

Hans Matthews
President
Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association

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