Project-minded First Nations head to PDAC: Windigo communities collaborating to thrive on the land.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: ABORIGINAL BUSINESS

A group of northwestern Ontario First Nation communities were heading to the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's (PDAC) mining show in March as a "unified voice" in looking to benefit from resource development in their traditional territories.

The communities of Cat Lake, Slate Falls, Lac Seul and a soon-to-be-announced fourth partner have agreed in principle to a Shared Territory Protocol agreement which will be presented at the world's largest mining industry trade show in early March.

"My message is, if you involve us correctly, there is no limit to what we can all do," said Russell Wesley, communication coordinator at Windigo First Nations Council, a Sioux Lookout-based tribal council of seven communities in northwestern Ontario.

Wesley and the chiefs will be part of a delegation of 12 that includes the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, which is making its second official appearance at PDAC, and has a growing Friendship Accord with these communities as Sioux Lookout looks to promote the region's gold, nickel, copper and iron ore prospects.

The communities belonging to the Windigo tribal council have proven to be more than capable of participating in natural resource development based on their ownership in a number First Nation-owned service companies with an abundance of skilled labour on hand.

"Windigo First Nations Council has evolved into a strong tribal council with serious business interests," said Wesley.

Award-winning Windigo Catering is a large and expanding Sioux Lookout-based operation that services Goldcorp's Musselwhite Mine and the crews stationed at the Ministry of Natural Resources' fire bases.

Another member-owned company is Boreal Solutions. Headquartered in Thunder Bay with an office in Sault Ste. Marie, it provides environmentally-friendly janitorial services and cleaning supplies to a variety of clients and is looking at expanding into other markets and provinces.

Some members have ownership in the White Cedar Pharmacy chain in northwestern Ontario and are owners of Pipestone Contracting, a profitable multi-million dollar construction operation that built most of the Musselwhite Mine. Others have partial ownership stakes in companies like North Star Air.

Windigo Tribal Council, itself, was the driving force behind the creation of Wataynikaneyap (Watay) Power is a licensed transmission company owned by 22 First Nation communities. It was created through a partnership with Goldcorp which wanted to address...