Mining symposium turns 20
Annual conference looks back and ahead
Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Monday, March 27, 2017
NUNAVUT
The Nunavut Mining Symposium is marking it's 20th year. The theme for the annual conference, which runs April 3 to 6 at the Frobisher Inn in Iqaluit, is "reflecting on the past, looking to the future."
Matto Moonie Michael, right, pans for gold near Kimmirut. The Nunavut Mining Symposium will celebrate the past, present and future of mining in the territory at its 20th anniversary conference running April 3 to 6 in Iqaluit. - photo courtesy of the Nunavut Mining Symposium |
The first symposium was held in Rankin Inlet. Keith Morrison, vice-chair of the symposium society, has been around for nearly the whole 20 years and has seen the symposium grow with its audience.
"It isn't and shouldn't be like any other conference," he said.
"This provides a unique opportunity for industry, communities, government and Inuit organizations involved with the industry in Nunavut to get together and talk in an environment that encourages people to communicate."
He said the communication builds public understanding and allows decisions to be made that are informed from all angles. It also allows companies to understand what Northerners, especially Inuit, expect, he said.
"The mining industry is a community effort, it requires the co-operation of industry, of the people living in an area, of regulators and landowners and mineral owners and government in order to make it work."
The symposium puts a special focus on having regional input and collaboration with Northern communities where resource development and exploration projects are taking place.
"That's something that you don't often see in a conference down south," he said.
One way the conference will be reflecting on the past and looking to the future is through a session with in-the-know Northerners from each territorial region who have experience with the Nunavut mining industry and the changes it has seen. Jack Anawak of Kivalliq Consulting, Management and Training Services Ltd. will represent the Qikiqtani region. Alex Buchan, director of community relations for TMAC Resources in Cambridge Bay will represent the Kitikmeot. Peter Tapatai of Peter's Expediting Ltd. will represent the Kivalliq.
The conference will also include an open session called speak up and speak out, where parties can flag issues or conflicts that might otherwise go under the radar, as well as provide additional input or look for clarification on specific files.
This year's hot topic seminar will be all about caribou.
"That's obviously a significant issue and always has been. It's always there in the background but we want it brought forward," said Morrison.
"No one is anticipating a couple talks are going to magically solve disputes on caribou but it keeps the conversation going."
He expects conversation will touch on Sabina's stalled Back River project, which was rejected by the board last year largely due to caribou concerns. He said the migratory mammal is also a large reason for current critique surrounding the draft Nunavut Land Use Plan.
Conference attendees will also hear an update from top brass at TMAC Resources, Baffinland, Agnico Eagle and Polar Knowledge Canada, on current and projected projects in the territory.
The symposium trade show will be held in the Koojesse Room in the Frobisher Inn and Conference Centre.
"We've been successful," said Morrison, reflecting on the past two decades. "We've got something that works and that we're proud of, and we want to take the time to look back at what we've done, because we do have pride in that, and see where we might go in the future."
