RESULTS

The negotiation of three agreements in less than two years was no easy task for NND or Alexco. Wisely, both parties used the negotiation process to create mutual respect and trustTrust: a legal arrangement in which an individual (the trustor) gives fiduciary control of property to a person or institution (the trustee) for the benefit of beneficiaries.. Alexco worked hard to understand and address NND concerns and wishes. The fact that NND had a settled land claim also affirmed its importance in all decisions made about the future of the district.

Many agreements fail because of poor implementationImplementation: the carrying out or execution of an agreement, decision, or plan.. The parties agree on what should occur, but they do not specify who is responsible for each task, and how to make sure each task is completed. In the case of Keno Hill, 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. described from the get-go how the implementation of agreements was to be carried out and monitored. The Exploration CBA, by including 18-20 commitments, displayed the same determination on both sides to make implementation happen. MonitoringMonitoring: the act of observing something and often keeping a record of it. People monitor mining activities or 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. in order to determine their effect on the land, resources, and communities. of the Exploration CBA occurs weekly or bi-weekly, and the monitoring committee meets monthly. This gets problems identified and dealt with swiftly. leverageLeverage: strategic advantage or the power to act effectively. In negotiation, leverage is a measure of which side, at any given moment, has a greater ability to influence the other side. in any way to improve 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 mineral 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. or the Exploration CBA.

The position of Mining Coordinator has not been filled to date. Although this position was nice in theory, both parties realized that there was no need for a full-time person yet. The Mining Coordinator will instead become a member of NND staff. He or she will have responsibilities for many types of project development as well as the monitoring of the Exploration CBA. If the Bellekino mine moves to production, Alexco will hire its own liaison officer who will work directly with this Coordinator.

Profit sharing or other compensationCompensation: something (such as money) given or received as payment or reparation (as for a service or loss or injury). is not part of any of the agreements at present.

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. opportunities have begun to develop. Alexco has negotiated a catering contract with ESS/NND, a Joint VentureJoint Venture: commonly, a business to which two or more parties contribute the essential land, capitalCapital: cash, property, equipment, services, and contracts or leases., and services, in return for a share in its ownership and control. (Note: the Joint Venture is very strictly defined under Canadian law.) between Compass Canada and NaCho Nyäk Dun Development CorporationCorporation: the most common form of business organization. It pursues set objectives and is empowered with legal rights usually only reserved for individuals, such as to sue and be sued, own property, hire employees, or loan and borrow money.. The Joint Venture must order supplies and prepare and serve three meals per day to people working on the Bellekeno project.⁵

Alexco is also negotiating with NaCho Nyäk Dun Development Corporation to transport personnel the 36 km between Mayo and Elsa, near Keno Hill. Settling this contract is a high priority matter. The corporation may first use a 15-passenger bus to do the job. But the service may expand to meeting charter aircraft at the airport. If the opportunities arise, still more schedules could be arranged to serve more people and more destinations.