LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Liidlii Kue First Nation has reached an agreement with a mining project in the Deh Cho.

John Kearney, left, Canadian Zinc's chairperson, and Chief Jim Antoine of Liidlii Kue First Nation sign an impact and benefits agreement between the two parties during a ceremony in Fort Simpson on June 16. Liidlii Kue First Nation's band councillors including Cindy Browning, centre, also added their signatures to the agreement. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

During a ceremony held at the Fort Simpson arbour on June 16, representatives of Liidlii Kue First Nation (LKFN) and Canadian Zinc Corporation signed an impact and benefits agreement. This is the first agreement of its type that the First Nation has signed.

"It's a great day for us," Chief Jim Antoine said to the crowd of close to 100 people that gathered to watch the signing.

The First Nation's objectives in signing the agreement were to create employment opportunities for members and business opportunities for LKFN's business arm, Nogha Enterprises Ltd., said Antoine. A secondary mandate was to create wealth through business opportunities.

"Years ago we could only dream about this sort of an agreement," he said.

Through the agreement Canadian Zinc, which owns Prairie Creek Mine, has agreed to maximize LKFN's members employment in the project either directly or through its contractors and to give preference to LKFN's businesses in the provision of goods and services. The agreement also addresses environmental concerns at the lead, zinc and silver site, located 90 km northwest of Nahanni Butte.

The agreement lays out that the First Nation will appoint a qualified monitor to watch for environmental compliance and monitor any impacts the mine has on the wildlife or environment. The monitor will work with the company to prevent or mitigate any impacts.

For its part, LKFN agreed to support Canadian Zinc in obtaining all the permissions and other regulatory approvals required for the Prairie Creek Mine. The agreement, which has been in the works for approximately a year and a half, was based on a memorandum of understanding the two parties signed in 2008.

Before the signing, John Kearney, the chairman of Canadian Zinc, told the crowd the agreement is a positive step for the mine because it shows the company has the support of the local community.

"We look forward to working closely with Liidlii Kue First Nation and the community of Fort Simpson," he said.

Kearney said the company's objective in signing the agreement is to demonstrate the intention to maximize employment opportunities for First Nation members and community residents. It's in the company's best interest to have as much community involvement as possible in the mine, he said.

"Our best employees will be local employees," said Kearney.

When in operation, the mine is expected to provide approximately 220 full-time jobs for a possible 20 years of mine life. Canadian Zinc has targeted a minimum employment level of 35 to 40 percent Northern residents and 15 to 25 per cent First Nations.

Kearney said LKFN members can aspire to every job at every level, not just labour positions. The company plans to create training and education programs with the territorial government so people can learn the skills needed to hold various jobs, he added.

As part of the agreement, Canadian Zinc will also be making contributions to an education fund that will assist LKFN members to get vocational or technical skills training. As well, contributions will be made to a fund to support community youth and health programs and activities and the Liidlii Kue Dene Trust Fund that will be used to address social concerns.

Liidlii Kue First Nation is the second First Nation to sign an impacts and benefits agreement with Canadian Zinc. The Nahanni Butte Dene Band signed a similar agreement in January.

Agreements like LKFN and Nahanni Butte's are ways to change the struggle that small Deh Cho communities have with lack of employment and economic opportunities, said Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche during the ceremony.

Menicoche cautioned, however, that it's up to the people, especially the youth, to make the most of the opportunities that the agreements provide.

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