Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Nahanni Butte (Jan 25/02) - Canadian Zinc is debating whether to apply now or in the near future for a permit to mine the Prairie Creek site. Either way, the company would like to strengthen relations with the Nahanni Butte Dene band.

Last week capped a flurry of activity in which Canadian Zinc executives met with both the Nahanni Butte Dene band and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board.

"There's a lot of confusion out there, but I thought we received their full support," said Alan Taylor, Canadian Zinc's vice-president of exploration, following a Jan. 15 meeting with Nahanni Butte chief and council, as well as members of the public.

At a Deh Cho First Nations leadership meeting last week, Nahanni Butte Chief Leon Konisenta expressed concerns over the mining operation's effects on the environment.

"They (Canadian Zinc) only care about the money. They don't look after the water and the land," Konisenta told his fellow DCFN delegates.

However, because the Nahanni Butte band and Canadian Zinc signed a co-operation agreement in 1996, the band cannot oppose licence applications by Canadian Zinc.

Therefore, DCFN chief negotiator Chris Reid suggested that Konisenta should advise chiefs of down-river communities such as Fort Simpson or Wrigley of any environmental concerns his band may have. They, in turn, can register the complaints in opposition to the company's licence applications.

"We know that there's a real environmental mess there with that (tailings pond) clean up," Reid said.

Taylor said his company is "just as concerned as the people living there," about environmental concerns. The last thing Canadian Zinc wants, "is to become a political football," he said.

He added that while he could understand Konisenta's frustration, "we have to have more co-operation."

Konisenta has also said that only a few jobs were being offered to members of the community. Taylor disputed this, saying, "we can supply more jobs than the community can provide."

Asked to provide a specific number, Taylor hedged, saying he couldn't supply an actual number.

Some of those jobs would be created during exploration by providing an access road to the exploration site. Others would be on the mine itself.

Taylor characterized the Friday meeting with the MVEIRB as, "a discussion with the regulatory people about where we stand."

After obtaining the necessary permits, Taylor said Canadian Zinc expects it will take about two years from application to get the mine up and running.