Encanto Potash Corp V.EPO.H

RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Update from Muskowekwan

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MFN and Canada North Camps Partnership
During the past year, the Chief and Council of the Muskowekwan First Nation have been very busy meeting and talking to other business leaders from various types of business to explore all potential opportunities for the First Nation, especially business opportunities that can result in joint partnerships and ventures. The MFN leaders are particularly interested in opportunities that can create job opportunities for members of the First Nation and where skill development and upgrading is a key component of such a partnership or venture. Last fall one of those discussions led to eaching an agreement in the form of a 50-50 percent equal partnership. The Muskowekwan First Nation (MFN) and Canada North Camps (CNC) signed an agreement to build work camps in Saskatchewan that would provide camp and catering service to industry building heavy construction projects. The camps could be built on lands of the MFN and beyond. Such an agreement was of interest to the Muskowekwan leadership as they have a partnership with Encanto to build a potash on-reserve land of the Muskowekwan First Nation. Canada North Camps has operated open camps throughout Alberta for a number of years servicing industry. As well, Canada North Camps also operates contract camps for oil field and government agencies. Accommodation and food services along with other services are provided at the camps by Canada North Camps. Chief Reginald Bellerose and his council are excited about this camp and catering partnership, as it is the start of a mutually beneficial business collaboration(s) between MFN and the McCracken family, owners of Canada North Camps. With the signing of this partnership Muskowekwan First Nation will position itself to take full advantage of the eco- nomic opportunities that are emerging in Saskatchewan such as the construction of potash mines and the building of facilities related to industry, said Chief Bellerose. “This agreement has the potential to create job opportunities for our members and could also create opportunities for members who are entrepreneurs. The ability to determine and control our own economy through economic sovereignty is part of exercising our treaty and inherent rights as Indigenous Nations,” says Chief Bellerose. Paul McCracken, President of Canada North Camps believes in equitable and ethical 50 - 50 Indigenous business partnerships, and encourages other companies to work with Indigenous peoples in the same manner, stating, “We are working on their lands; they deserve to profit equitably and have inclusion in the business partnership”. Mr. McCracken a former teacher, turned business man, believes that what makes CNC Indigenous business partnerships unique is their mutually collaborative approach to contribute meaningfully to community development initiatives. CNC recently won an Aboriginal Best Practice Business award in the province of Alberta for their work with Indigenous Nations.