• A ‘reset’ or ‘one and done’? First Nations and first ministers set to hold historic meeting

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-10-25 08:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Indigenous, Governance, Infrastructure, Resources, Mining]

  The Assembly of First Nations, led by National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, and Canadian first ministers are holding a historic, closed-door First Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa to redefine relations, discuss infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development, and address major project involvement. Notable absences include the premiers of Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec, while several Indigenous leaders have expressed skepticism over meeting formats, speech restrictions, and stalled federal Indigenous legislation under Prime Minister Mark Carney. The federal government, through the Privy Council Office and Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, plans to announce new community supports during the one-day conference.

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• Ontario and Webequie First Nation Award Contract for Webequie Supply Road

  Source: Ontario - Ministry of Transportation
  Date: 2026-09-29 18:15:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, Transportation, Infrastructure, Mining, Resources, Indigenous]

  The Government of Ontario and Webequie First Nation have awarded Sigfusson Northern LTD the construction manager contract for the 107-kilometre all-season Webequie Supply Road, which aims to unlock access to the Ring of Fire five years ahead of schedule by November 2030. The project is part of a broader provincial plan to build over 500 kilometres of all-season roads leading to the Ring of Fire, which is projected to generate 70,000 jobs and add $22 billion to the provincial economy over 30 years. The initiative builds upon a Community Partnership Agreement signed last year between the province and Webequie First Nation to accelerate construction and support regional economic development.

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• First Nation opens work camp at Faro mine cleanup project in Yukon

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-18 20:54:45.0
  Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Indigenous, Infrastructure, Resources]

  The Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation, owned by the Ross River Dena Council, has opened the Tsē Zūl work camp at the abandoned Faro mine site in central Yukon to house workers for a massive federal remediation project. Located 200 kilometres northeast of Whitehorse, the facility is designed to accommodate nearly 300 workers and provide long-term revenue and employment opportunities for the First Nation. The Faro mine complex, which operated for nearly 30 years as a lead-zinc mine before its bankruptcy and abandonment in 1998, represents one of Canada's most complex industrial cleanup sites, expected to take decades to complete.

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• N.W.T.’s ice road to 3 diamond mines unlikely to open for 2027 season

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-14 23:13:23.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Transportation, Mining, Resources, Indigenous]

  The Northwest Territories’ Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road is unlikely to open for the 2027 operational season, marking the first closure since the ice road opened in 1982. Operated annually from February to March, the road services three diamond mines northeast of Yellowknife: the Rio Tinto-owned Diavik mine, the Ekati mine overseen by PricewaterhouseCoopers under creditor protection, and De Beers' Gahcho Kué mine. The suspension is driven by the end of commercial production and active remediation at Diavik and Ekati, alongside financial difficulties at Gahcho Kué that accelerated its closure timeline to 2028. Indigenous corporations and contractors such as Det'on Cho Logistics, owned by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, face significant economic impacts from the loss of infrastructure maintenance and lodge operations, though winter road service is expected to tentatively return in 2028 to support ongoing cleanup efforts.

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• N.W.T.’s ice road to 3 diamond mines unlikely to open for 2027 season

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-14 23:13:23.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Transportation, Mining, Resources, Indigenous]

  The Northwest Territories' Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road is unlikely to open for the 2027 operating season for the first time since opening in 1982, due to the end of commercial production and financial restructuring at three major diamond mines: Rio Tinto-owned Diavik, Ekati (overseen by PricewaterhouseCoopers under creditor protection), and De Beers' Gahcho Kué. Management committee director Howard Nowell stated that the closure decision provides early clarity for contractors, service providers, and support communities, though operations are expected to resume in 2028 to support ongoing site remediation and clean-up efforts. Marc Whitford, president of the North Slave Métis Alliance, noted the suspension will negatively impact Indigenous-owned corporations and contractors such as Det'on Cho Logistics, which rely on the winter infrastructure for seasonal employment and transport.

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• Support wavers from pair of Akaitcho First Nations on major N.W.T. infrastructure projects

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-11 19:13:19.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Energy, Indigenous, Mining, Resources]

  Two Akaitcho First Nations, Deninu Kųę́ First Nation and Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, have expressed strong disapproval and suspended support for major Northwest Territories infrastructure initiatives, specifically the Taltson Hydro Expansion and the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. Deninu Kųę́ First Nation stated its suspension will persist until the Government of the Northwest Territories formally recognizes its severe legacy impacts from the original 1965 Taltson generation facility built near Fort Resolution. Both First Nations cited a lack of meaningful consultation and failure to secure free, prior, and informed consent under Section 35 of the Constitution Act. In response, Deputy Premier and Minister Responsible for Strategic Infrastructure Caroline Wawzonek maintained that the territorial government remains confident it can address outstanding concerns and continue discussions regarding land use, caribou habitats, and community benefits.

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• N.W.T. looking to bolster critical minerals at Canada Investment Summit: Premier Simpson

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-11 10:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Economy, Mining, Resources, Infrastructure, Indigenous]

  Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Caitlin Cleveland will pitch half-a-dozen resource projects at the invitation-only Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, organized by Prime Minister Mark Carney to target $1 trillion in investments over five years. The delegation will showcase advanced critical mineral, gold, and silver projects—including Honey Badger Silver's Prairie Creek mine (PC Silver), the NICO Mineral Reserves mine, the Yellowknife Lithium Project, the Nechalacho rare earth mine, and the Pine Point mine development project. Furthermore, the territory is highlighting enabling infrastructure such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway and Nunavut’s Grays Bay Road and Port Project to reduce transportation costs and facilitate ethical, sustainable resource development through regulatory co-management arrangements with Indigenous governments.

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• N.W.T. looking to bolster critical minerals at Canada Investment Summit, says premier

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-11 10:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Economy, Mining, Resources, Infrastructure, Indigenous]

  Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Caitlin Cleveland are attending the invitation-only Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, organized by Prime Minister Mark Carney to target $1 trillion in federal investments. The N.W.T. delegation is pitching half-a-dozen advanced resource projects to global investors from the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including Honey Badger Silver's Prairie Creek mine (PC Silver), the NICO Mineral Reserves mine, the Yellowknife Lithium Project, the Nechalacho rare earth mine, and the Pine Point mine development project. Furthermore, the territory is highlighting enabling infrastructure initiatives—such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway and Nunavut's Grays Bay Road and Port Project connecting to the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor—alongside established Indigenous regulatory co-management frameworks to lower operational costs and attract sustainable development capital.

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• Ontario and Marten Falls First Nation Break Ground on Ring of Fire Road

  Source: Ontario - Premier's Office
  Date: 2026-08-31 15:30:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, Infrastructure, Transportation, Mining, Resources, Indigenous]

  Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Marten Falls First Nation Chief Bruce Achneepineskum, and provincial ministers celebrated the groundbreaking for the 184-kilometre Marten Falls Community Access Road, marking the start of construction five years ahead of schedule. The project, which includes 35 bridges and culverts and is scheduled to open by November 2031, represents the longest segment of the proposed 514-kilometre Ring of Fire all-season road network. The overall initiative aims to connect Marten Falls First Nation to the provincial highway network while unlocking critical mineral deposits projected to add $22 billion to Ontario's economy and create 70,000 jobs.

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