Sagamok Anishnawbek Seals the Deal with Vale Canada Limited – An Impacts and Benefits Agreement is Concluded

After five long years of negotiations, on Friday June 22nd, the day finally arrived for Stonecircle client Sagamok Anishnawbek to sign an Impacts and Benefits Agreement (IBA) with Vale Canada Limited (formerly Inco Limited). The IBA is in relation to Vale’s Totten Mine which is located within Sagamok traditional territory and is the first new Vale mine to open in the Sudbury mining camp in 30 years.

As part of Treaty Day festivities, Chief Paul Eshkakogan and senior Vale representative Kelly Strong attached their signatures to the long awaited agreement. Signing of the IBA was followed by a pipe ceremony, which Elders, members of Council and two Vale representatives were part of. The pipe ceremony, led by Leroy Bennett, was especially important to the community in order to “seal the deal” according to First Nation traditions, and ensure the success of the IBA and overall safety at the mine site.

Other activities were organized throughout Treaty Day to recognize and share information on the IBA and to celebrate the community’s achievement. A “true” sunrise ceremony was held on one of the longest days of the year, starting at 4:30 a.m.. Alex Ker of Stonecircle, who was involved in negotiations since they commenced in 2007, provided an overview of the content of the IBA to community members during a morning information session while treaty annuities under the Robinson Huron Treaty were received by community members. In attendance, and available to answer questions at this session were some of the 15 members of Sagamok Anishnawbek who currently work at the Totten Mine either with Vale, Cementation Canada Inc. (the company responsible for underground mine construction) or with Ted Bell Transportation, Sagamok’s business partner at the site.

After the signing and pipe ceremony a community feast was held at the elaborately decorated Millennium Centre (Bingo Hall) at Sagamok. Speeches and gift exchanges followed. Chief Paul was presented by Vale with a beautiful bronze statue of a miner – a tribute not only to the Chief’s commitment to and leadership throughout negotiation of the agreement, but also to the Chief’s father Frances Eshkakogan who was killed in a mining accident at an Inco mine in 1969. Alex was humbled and overwhelmed to receive from Sagamok the gift of a stunning, large quill box, which was the last to have been made nearly four years ago by a talented Sagamok artist, Martha Toulouse, with the assistance of her mother - the latter having made quill boxes for over 75 years.

The Sagamok Vale IBA for the Totten Mine Project will extend through the life of mine, which is currently expected to be 23 years, and potentially for 5 years after closing out activities begin at the mine site. It provides for benefits sharing in the areas of employment and business contracting, and establishes a significant role for the community in ensuring environmental stewardship, the inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge in environmental management and impacts mitigation. The IBA includes a financial component which is tied to the community’s Ten Year Action Plan for Healing and Development. With implementation, the hard work on this IBA now begins for the First Nation.

Stonecircle congratulates Sagamok Council and community and Vale Canada on the achievement of this agreement and wishes all partners the best for successful implementation of the IBA. We also extend our sincere thanks to the Chief, Council and community for the privilege of being asked to walk with you on this part of your journey.