Lands & Resources

Lands & Resources

Updates

On August 9, 2022 Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation (LKFN), Naha Dehé Dene Band (NDDB), and NorZinc Ltd. signed an Environmental Agreement related to the Canadian Zinc Prairie Creek Mine and All-Season Road projects.

This agreement was negotiated over several years and ensures LKFN and NDDB play a key role in environmental oversight and protection for the Mine and Road. Both communities will sit on a joint Environmental Committee with NorZinc, to make environmental decisions and oversee a Dene environmental monitoring program for the Mine and Road projects.

The Environmental Agreement is the third agreement LKFN has negotiated with NorZinc in recent years. In August 2021, LKFN and NorZinc signed two impact benefit agreements with NZC for:

1. A Roads Benefits Agreement (RBA) for the proposed All-Season Road. This agreement outlines commitments for employment and training opportunities, business and contracting opportunities, and the payment of funds to an LKFN Trust for projects to benefit the community.
2. A Letter of Agreement (LOA), which updates the previously-signed 2011 Impact Benefits Agreement for the Mine to reflect the post-2011 plans to expand the production rate for the Mine (which is possible because of the All Season Road). This agreement guarantees employment and training opportunities, business and contracting opportunities, and some financial benefits for LKFN related to the Mine.

LKFN continues to negotiate with NorZinc regarding a regional Dene Trust Fund which will help ensure there are Project benefits for the Dene in the Dehcho region as a whole.

For more information on these agreements or to receive a summary of what they contain, members can contact:

Dieter Cazon: 867-695-3131

Trieneke Gastmeier: 416-655-3091