AuTECO Minerals Ltd (ASX: AUT) and the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation (MOFN) have announced an exploration agreement that significantly expands the area of operation within the Pickle Crow Gold Project in the Uchi sub-province of Ontario, Canada.
AuTeco said the agreement provides continued First Nation support for access to tenure for exploration purposes, while providing confidence to the Indigenous inhabitants regarding commercial, social benefit and cultural matters.
“Both parties have a strong commitment to create mutual benefits while continuing to respect the traditional territories, activities, values and rights of the MOFN,” AuTeco said.
The revised agreement replaces the 2009 exploration Memorandum of Understanding and now incorporates all AuTECO tenure that is located within MOFN traditional territories. The previous MOU covered an area adjacent to the historic Pickle Crow mine and all work completed by AuTECO to date has been restricted to the region defined under the terms of the 2009 agreement. The Company has significantly expanded the project area to ~500km2 since assuming management control in March 2020 and the updated agreement ensures all tenure, including key regional exploration targets for the upcoming winter drill campaign, are included.
AuTeco said completion of the agreement secured support of exploration and advanced exploration activities at the Pickle Crow Project and outlines a path forward for an Impact Benefit Agreement should the company decide to pursue commercial development of the mine.
AuTECO said it welcomes the MOFN as shareholders via the issuance of 5 million ordinary shares to the community fund. The shares will be issued under the company’s available Listing Rule 7.1 placement capacity for nil cash consideration.
AuTECO Chief Executive Officer Darren Cooke said: “We are delighted to sign this exploration agreement with the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation.
“I would like to pay tribute to Chief David Masakeyash and the Council for the spirit in which the discussions have taken place.
“We will continue to respect the land, tradition and culture of the First Nations peoples whilst doing our best to share the economic and social benefits of our investment in the Pickle Lake area.
“This is just the beginning of the partnership. With the Mishkeegogamang becoming shareholders of AuTECO, the community will benefit from our ongoing success at Pickle Crow.”
Chief David Masakeyash of the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation said: “We are pleased to have reached agreement with AuTECO regarding their operations in our territory, which represents the strong and mutually respectful relationship that has resulted from our engagements.
“In this agreement, we have developed a strong framework for the protection of our land, and certainty our members will fairly benefit from the work undertaken. Each of these qualities are fundamental to building a relationship with our nation.”
