THE DEAL

Bellekeno is a good example of how a series of agreements can be built, one on top of the other. Both the MOUMemorandum of Understanding: a document that records an understanding between a community and a mining or exploration companyExploration Company: a company whose principal activity is that of exploration.. The MOU defines principles for working together for mutual benefit. and the Negotiation AgreementNegotiation Agreement: an early agreement in the mining process, likely to occur in the Exploration StageExploration Stage: the whole range of activity from searching for and developing mineralMineral: A naturally-occurring, homogeneous substance that has a definite chemical composition and (usually) a crystalline structure. deposits., which would outline the basis of the relationship between the Aboriginal group and the mining company and how the relationship will evolve if the mine moves forward. formed the foundation for the Exploration CBA.

The Negotiation Agreement confirmed NND's support in principle for Alexco’s current activities in the district. It provided “project certaintyProject Certainty: the likelihood that a project will be able to meet its intended outcomes.,” that is, it assured Alexco that NND would support the development of mines in the Keno Hill Silver District. It established how NND and Alexco would work together as a team while the company continued its exploration and reclamation work in the area. The Negotiation Agreement also stated that Alexco and NND would collaborate to ensure NND’s meaningful participation in all the regulatory processes related to mining development in the district (environmental assessmentsAssessments: the process of gathering and documenting information about a mine’s viability and impactsImpacts: the effect or impression of one thing on another such as the impact of a mining project on the life of an Aboriginal community.. and water licensesLicenses: documents that must be obtained in order to apply for or carry out certain activities., for example).

The Exploration CBA explains in detail how Alexco and NND will collaborate in regulatory processes. It also establishes the foundation on which Alexco and NND will be able to conclude Comprehensive CBAs as the development of the Keno Hill proceeds.

Provisions of the Exploration CBA

The Exploration CBA does five main things:

• It assures NND support for the development of mineralMineral: A naturally-occurring, homogeneous substance that has a definite chemical composition and (usually) a crystalline structure. deposits in Keno Hill Silver District (“project certainty”).
• It describes a new Cooperative Engagement Process. This process ensures the full participation of NND in all environmental approvals, current and future, that relate to mining in the Keno Hill Silver District.
• It commits Alexco and NND to work together to find the contractors and partners for trucking, catering, and many other downstreamDownstream: downstream business refer to suppliers of products and services such as exploration, production, processing, product development, technical services, marketing and sales that supply the mine but are not owned by the mine. services.
• It lists 18-20 important tasks, which party to the agreement is responsible for each task, and when it will get done.
• It outlines the financial support Alexco will provide so that NND can participate more fully in mine development. Alexco will pay for certain NND scholarships. It will pay for the technical support NND members require to take part in some regulatory processes (baseline studies and reports on traditional knowledgeTraditional Knowledge (TK): the knowledge, observations, and understandings about the natural environment, and about the relationships between living beings and their environment, that Aboriginal people have accumulated over many generations. , for example). Alexco will also pay for an NND Mining Coordinator who will keep the First Nation up to date on what's happening with Alexco's mining projects. This Coordinator will pass on information about job and contract opportunities as well.⁴

There are important differences between this Exploration CBA and other agreements between mining companies and Aboriginal communities. NND and Alexco are proud of these differences.

One difference is the absence of employment and contracting quotasQuota: the share that is due from, due to, or allocated to a person or group. that reserve specific amounts of work and business for Aboriginal people. Instead, the Exploration CBA expresses Alexco’s intention to employ more NND workers and contractors over time as they become more skilled and competitive. Alexco aims to develop this NND capacity with a series of partnerships, each of which is more advanced than the one previous. The first partnerships involve contracts for hauling water, transporting employees, and catering. Later contracts will require still more experience, skill, and equipment, like drillingDrilling: the primary means of bringing rock samples to the surface. Often called “diamond drilling” since the bit used is made of diamond. Drilling is a major expense, costing $50 or more per metre. or laboratory services. By this means, NND members will be able to keep winning contracts in Keno Hill Silver District well into the future. In that way, even after Bellekeno mine closes, NND will still receive benefits from it.