Crown Mountain Resources (CMR) and Yaq̓it ʔa•knuqⱡi'it First Nation (YQT), also known as the Tobacco Plains Indian Band, have announced a new collaborative initiative to progress an Early Training and Employment Initiative for the Crown Mountain project in British Columbia.
The initiative represents an important milestone in the parties' ongoing development of a Shared Prosperity Agreement to establish a long-term partnership to oversee the planning, development, operation and reclamation of CMR's Crown Mountain hard coking coal project.
The project, located near Sparwood, is situated within ʔakanuxunik̓ ʔamakʔis, the unceded ancestral lands of Yaq̓it ʔa•knuqⱡi 'it over which Yaq̓it ʔa•knuqⱡi 'it declares and exercises its inherent and s. 35 aboriginal rights and title.
As part of this initiative, CMR and YQT are committing to the joint early development of employment and training programs and procurement opportunities.
This early work will include the establishment of a dedicated Employment and Training Coordinator and the creation of an Indigenous Employment and Training Working Group to plan, design, and oversee initiatives that will prepare YQT members for potential future project opportunities.
The collaboration will guide the development of a broader Indigenous Training and Employment Strategy for the Crown Mountain project.
The initiative will focus on joint development of a Human Resources Strategy aligned with YQT's priorities and workforce strengths; Design and delivery of training, apprenticeship, and scholarship programs; Creation of work placement and certification pathways for Nation members; and establishment of a joint framework for monitoring and reporting on employment outcomes.
“As we navigate the environmental assessment phase of this Project, it is critical that our people are equipped with the training, education, and resources necessary to participate in a meaningful way,” Nasuʔkin (Chief) Heidi Gravelle of Yaq̓it ʔa•knuqⱡi'it First Nation said in a press release.
“Ensuring sufficient lead time for capacity building will position our members to play active roles in project participation, oversight, monitoring, and decision making,” Gravelle said.
"This is a foundational step in ensuring that Indigenous communities, beginning with YQT, are ready to fully participate in the opportunities that will arise when the project proceeds,” CMR president Michael Gray said.
“Crown Mountain Resources is deeply committed to supporting local skills development, training, and meaningful long-term employment and business opportunities for Indigenous peoples. Respect for the lands and communities upon which we operate is a core value for CMR."