Chamber of mines manager happy with land claim result

The Northwest Territories’ first land claim settlement will have little impact on mining and exploration activities says Tom Hoefer, general manager of the N.W.T. Chamber of Mines. Under the recent agreement between the federal government and the Gwich’in Indians, 8,640 square miles in the Mackenzie River Delta — including 2,360 square miles with subsurface mineral rights — will be turned over to the Gwich’in. The tribe will also receive a non-taxable payment of $75 million and a royalty on all resource production. Wildlife harvesting rights, participation in wildlife, land and environmental management, and the rights of first refusal to a variety of wildlife activities will all be guaranteed. “We don’t have any strong feelings either way,” said Hoefer. “The area that is involved has not been a mining area traditionally.” But even if the Gwich’in settlement may have no immediate impact on the mining community, it has the stage for future agreements with native groups in Canada’s north. Hoefer said he would be glad to see similar agreements ratified if it would mean a speedier resolution to the land claim dilemma. “The Gwich’in have moved fast, which is good to see,” he said. “I would like to see more land claim agreements so we can get some stability here.” Under the recent deal, which remains to be ratified, the Gwich’in will receive 7.5% of the first $2 million of resource royalties received by the government, and 1.5% of additional resource royalties within the Mackenzie Valley. The agreement also covers 600 square miles in the Yukon’s Peel River basin. Hoefer said most of the native groups negotiating for land understand the economic importance of the mineral industry and are unlikely to make unreasonable environmental or royalty demands. At the federal level, Harry LaForme has been appointed chief commissioner of the new Indian Specific Claims Commission. The commission will be a sounding post for bands that disagree with the government’s rejection of their claim for negotiation.