First Nations benefit from Young-Davidson Mine

The Matachewan First Nation is among the many organizations and companies enjoying benefits from the development and operation of the Young-Davidson Gold Mine, now owned by AuRico Gold Inc.

Previous owner Northgate Minerals Corporation struck the right note to establish a good relationship with the band when it opened talks even before it acquired the key property back in 2005.

At a flag raising ceremony at the mine site on March 4, 2010, then Chief Richard Wincikaby said “thanks to the hard work of so many dedicated people we are here today to celebrate a better future for all of us.

Northgate came to us in good faith even before they acquired the property and we have benefited from a close and open relationship in the spirit of working together.”

During mine development, Northgate worked closely with the various surrounding communities and in July 2009 signed an Impact and Benefits Agreement (IBA) with the Matachewan First Nation, a member community of the Wabun Tribal Council and AuRico also signed an IBA with the Temagami First Nation in July 2012..

The council handles the negotiations for mining and hydro-electric agreements on behalf of its six member communities: Beaver House, Brunswick, Chapleau Ojibwe, Matachewan, Flying Post and Mattagami.

The Wabun traditional territories take in a large section of Northeastern Ontario that includes the major gold and base metal mining and exploration camps in Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Matachewan and Gogama.

The graduates of the Underground Miner Training program, which was provided under the Matachewan Aboriginal Access to Mine Jobs Training Strategy (MAATS), were hired on the mine project. MAATS was a three-year $4-million initiative announced in February 2009 by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).

“We worked with First Nations to develop a mining training program and when the opportunity arises we can pull them into the work force,” mine general manager Luc Guimond explained.

“If we do not have immediate openings those who take the course can obtain their Underground Common Core certificate and take their skills to other mining companies in the Timmins Gold Camp or further afield if they choose,” Guimond added.

This program operated between 2010 and March 31, 2012. A partnership strategy was developed by the Wabun Council and Northgate and the federal and provincial governments provided the funds.

At a ceremony on May 26, 2011 where six graduates of the MAATS program joined the mine’s workforce, MAATS executive director Anne Batisse said “our graduates here today are exceptionally fortunate in that they are moving on to employment right away. They are not just going on to another job; they are embarking in mining careers.

I am very pleased with how well everyone, including Northgate Minerals, Dumas Contracting and Matachewan First Nation, have worked together to provide these graduates with valuable training.”

Former chief and Elder Mario Batisse said “back when I was chief we had to work hard just to get a little funding to put our people to work on projects here and there. Those times were tough and it was not easy for First Nation people to find employment.

Thanks to the development of these training and employment opportunities with Northgate at their Young Davidson Mine, our people are starting rewarding careers in mining.”

The mine began commercial production in September of 2012 and has a life of 18 years.

The Matachewan First Nation is located about 30km southeast of the community of Matachewan and about 60km west of Kirkland Lake off of Highway 66. It is home to a growing community and the First Nation is actively taking part in partnering and working with the resource development industry in establishing mutually beneficial agreements.