Encanto Potash Corp V.EPO.H

RE:RE:RE:RE:Update from Muskowekwan

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Apologies for the horrible formatting. All you have to do is know where to look. The following posts are from the January newsletter to Muskowekwan members.
Message from the Chief and Council regarding various projects Update on Project Activities Now that the holiday season is behind us and we have entered a new year, the Council believes that it is time to provide the membership with an update on activities of Council with respect to a number of the projects. Council has spent much time working on behalf of members to make these projects become a reality. Our main objective with all of these projects is to make Muskowekwan First Nation self-sufficient, and to create employment and business opportunities for members so that MFN can become a full participant in the economy of Saskatchewan. The members of Council are fully committed to working diligently on behalf of members to achieve these goals. Individually all of Council has been involved in attempting to make these projects a reality. The most important project is the Proposed Potash Mine which involves the Muskowekwan Resources Limited and our Partner Encanto Potash. The potash resource is located wholly on our Treaty Land and this project will not impact the Treaty Rights of our members. As members know, on April 15, 2014, members voted overwhelmingly in favour of proceeding with this project when they voted in favour on six ballot questions in what was called the Land Designation Vote. Since that time, progress has been made. During the information meetings held prior to the Designation Vote, members voiced concerns that they wanted to ensure the protection of the environment and raised their apprehensions about the tailings area. Since the estimated life of the Proposed Potash Mine would be from 50 to 70 years and the life of the tailings management area would between 99 and 400 years, it is necessary to locate the tailing management area off-reserve. Accordingly the Council has been in discussions with local rural municipalities regarding finding a suitable location for the tailings management area. The Proposed Potash Mine would operate as a solution mine which requires water to extract the mineral. The Council has had discussions with the agencies responsible for water in the province to determine how the project can access water. More has been on-going with respect to producing regulations for the development of a commercial mine on-reserve. This work has been occurring under the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act known as FNCIDA. The A publication of the Muskowekwan First Nation January 2015 Muskowekwan Chief and Council: Sitting (left to right) Councillor Julius Manitopyes and Chief Reginald Bellerose. Standing (left to right) Councillors Ernest Moise, Brad Hunter, Alvin Campeau, Calvin Wolfe, Jamie Wolfe, Leon Wolfe Jr., and Albert Pinacie Jr. legislation closes the regulatory gap on-reserves and allows commercial and industrial projects to proceed. The adoption of the regulations on-reserve will be compatible with projects off-reserve. Council has been meeting and discussing the Proposed Potash Mine with officials of our partner Encanto Potash. As everyone knows the last few months have been hard on corporations involved in resource extraction whether it is oil, gas, potash, or uranium as the demand for the products has decreased and accordingly the price. Nonetheless, our partner Encanto continues to attempt to finalize a contract with a buyer located in India who would purchase the product mined on Muskowekwan lands for 15 years. Other activities on the Proposed Potash Mine is completing the final phases of the environmental assessment and talking to various agencies who would be involved in developing and delivering training resources. In this newsletter is information on the other projects that Council have been busy working on such as the partnership with Canada North Camps, and our discussions with Hugh Munro Construction Limited. One project that has much potential and that the Council is excited about is the Port Regina Project. The Council believes this project could be one that creates both wealth for MFN and job opportunities for members. Please see the back page of this newsletter for more information on this project. One other activity that the Council is proud of is the creation of a Muskowekwan Urban Office in the City of Regina. 1 All members are encouraged to drop in to this office and meet the staff working there. March will see a Chief and Council election taking place and there is information in this newsletter regarding the up-coming election. The Council encourages all members to exercise their democratic right and cast their ballot in the upcoming election. Members of Council encourage the members to attend sessions providing information on those running for Chief and Council and ask questions of those running for a position on Council. In closing Council encourages members who have questions to ask members of Council so that they can become more informed about the activities of Chief and Council. Sincerely Chief Reginald Bellerose