Native groups support development plans for Eskay Creek

“The discovery falls within our traditional territory but we want to clarify that we are not laying claim to those claims,” he said. “Our tribal cou ncil is no t opposed to resource development.”

Edzerza said the native organization met with officials of Calpine to share information and to discuss issues of mutual interest.

“We told them as resource development moves into our area we want to ensure that our people are developed along with the resources,” he said.

“Our traditional way of life is being taken away and must be replaced with an equitable lifestyle.”

Calpine Resources said the meetings dealt with potential agreements to employ the Tahltan Nation on exploration and construction projects, principally at the Eskay Creek project owned equally by Calpine and Consolidated Stikine Silver (VS E). The parties involved have already entered two employment agreements, Calpine reports.

Calpine President Murray Pezim said the native labor force employed by the Tahltan Nation has extensive experience in road building and mine exploration-rel ated occupations, including camp construction and material haulage.

Prime Explorations, on behalf of all Prime Group companies including Calpine, expressed a commitment to provide employment opportunities to native members of the Tahltan Nation. Both parties expressed their intention to address environmen tal concerns and to ensure orderly and safe development of the area.

Meanwhile, Calpine is continuing an aggressive exploration and drill program that will continue throughout the winter on the Eskay Creek property, w hich can b e reached by helicopter. The project is considered to be one of the most signifi cant gold projects being developed in Western Canada.

The company released additional assay results from the drill program, including more assays from hole 120. The hole returned 85.3 ft of 0.551 oz gold and 40.2 0 oz silver per ton; 23 ft of 0.306 oz gold and 4.31 oz silver; and 49.2 ft of 0 .772 oz gold and 31.53 oz silver which includes 26.2 ft of 1.393 oz gold and 58.72 oz silver.

At last report Calpine’s drilling on the 21 zone discovery had tested a 1,250-m strike length of mineralization.

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