Canada Nickel Company has signed a key agreement with the Mattagami, Matachewan, and Flying Post First Nations—members of the Wabun Tribal Council—regarding the Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project.
This agreement marks a major step forward in the project’s development while fostering collaboration with First Nations communities.
It also establishes an early framework for business and employment opportunities as the parties work toward a comprehensive Impact Benefits Agreement (IBA).
The agreement includes commitments for transparent negotiations on major contracting opportunities, such as constructing a 25.2 km railway, relocating Highway 655, and developing a temporary overpass. These initiatives aim to drive economic growth while addressing the priorities of the three First Nations.
Canada Nickel CEO Mark Selby stated:
“This agreement is a milestone in the development of the Crawford Project and reflects our commitment to meaningful partnerships with First Nations and our respect for the Traditional Territories in which we are fortunate to operate.
We value our ongoing work with Flying Post, Mattagami, and Matachewan First Nations, and the collective advocacy efforts of Wabun Tribal Council.
We look forward to building on this foundation to deliver long-term benefits for their membership, our project, and the region at large.”
Scheduled for 2025–2029, these projects will prioritize First Nations businesses, generate local revenue, foster partnerships, and support regional growth.
The agreement also establishes systems for transparency and collaboration, including regular engagement sessions and the appointment of a First Nations business representative to coordinate opportunities within the project.
Key initiatives include prioritizing First Nations-owned businesses for contracts and offering specialized training programs to enhance local workforce skills.
Matachewan First Nation Chief Alex ‘Sonny’ Batisse welcomed the agreement, stating:
“This agreement provides a genuine starting point for addressing the impacts of the Crawford Project on our lands and people. It is a positive step towards ensuring Matachewan First Nation’s members’ voices are heard and our rights are respected.”
Canada Nickel also announced the results of its front-end engineering and design (FEED) activities, conducted by the company’s consultants.
The FEED aimed to refine initial capital cost estimates based on data from a winter geotechnical program, a test piling initiative, and updated quotations.
Notably, the mining schedule has been reorganized to prioritize the extraction of higher-value ore from the East Zone, reducing pre-stripping by 30%.
Ore from this zone will now be processed 12 years earlier than initially planned, while ore from the Main Zone has been deferred.
