2009-05-22

Webequie First Nations signed a 10-year air licensing agreement with Webequie Logistics; an agreement that is being called a breakthrough.

"We’ve been serving many of the northern communities for the last 13 years as an air service," said Webequie Logistics president Clayton Downton, adding the company has been working with the First Nations community for the last year regarding the exploration happening in the territory.

The deal covers several mining industrial measures including line cutting and staking, exploration equipment rental, exploration camp construction, personnel management for camps and air transportation solutions and exploration logistics. To fulfil many of these services Downton said they will hire local residents and local businesses.

The labour and training benefits of the deal will help the community develop, said Webequie Chief Cornelius Wabasse.

"Hopefully my community will prosper from this activity that’s surrounding us in terms of community development and infrastructure and also labour and employment," he said. "We would like to gain from this agreement in terms of advancing into better living conditions in our community."

Webequie Logistics began their working relationship with the First Nation community with a small contract to fly fuel in for an exploration company more than 12 years ago, said Downton.

"We set up a base in Webequie and we began operations with that small contract and quickly realized because of Webequie’s location, it served as great infrastructure to the entire Ring of Fire," he said.

The Ring of Fire is the name given to the geological region of the James Bay lowlands and Downton said is busiest and most active exploration area in Canada. Companies are exploring for gold, platinum, nickel and copper in the Ring of Fire.

During the past 12 years, the company and the community have forged a strong working relationship.

"Many of the elders and people from the community are familiar with us," said Downton. "We’ve been flying for over a dozen years so the people know us and there is a mutual trust and that’s what’s really helped this consultation process."

Wabasse said the developed working relationship has been proven over the years.
"That’s why we chose this company to work with us and sign the agreement," he said.

Downton said their purpose is to guard the rights of the people of Webequie and bring the benefits of the agreement to them.

"Hiring local people is a big advantage and it brings financial benefit as far as profit and revenue sharing," he said. "It creates an economic engine in the community."