First Nations

NML strives to have a net positive impact on the communities near its operations. Its preferred approach is to work with the individuals and communities in question to help enhance their ability to become self-sustaining over the long term through a self-chosen balance of traditional and non-traditional activities. With that in mind, many of its initiatives are addressed at youths and at preserving and strengthening culture.

Some of NML's achievements to date are: 

• a locally administered scholarship fund for secondary students at Pessamit, Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, Matimekush-Lac John and Kawawachikamach. It rewards students on the basis of the improvement that they have made over the academic year rather than those achieving the highest grades;
• an Elders' Committee has been created for the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach and the Nation Innu Matimekush-Lac John;
• life-of-mine impact and benefit agreements (“IBAs”) have been concluded with three communities. They place an emphasis on employment, training and business opportunities and provide for financial compensation;
• numerous grants have been given, especially for cultural and sporting activities.

For details of NML's activities related to the affected First Nations, please refer to the News Letter.

Subscribe to the News Letter, please press here.

In order to be as accurate as possible, the following community descriptions are based as much as possible on material prepared and published by the communities themselves. In every case, the community was asked to approve NML’s draft text. Some of them gave their approval, for which NML thanks them. Others did not respond. None of them withheld their approval.