Nuvamiut Development, an Inuit-run business in northern Quebec, has signed a joint-venture deal with Bradley Bros. to carry out surface and underground drilling over three years at the Raglan nickel mine of Falconbridge. The mine is 60 km west of the Ungava Peninsula.
In October 2001, Nuvumiut learned that the drilling contracts at Raglan were coming up for bids. Nuvumiut had no experience drilling but decided to team up with one that did, namely Bradley Bros.
“It’s a positive for both companies,” says Arthur Murdy, general manager of Bradley Bros. “No matter where you go in the world, you try to work with the local communities.”
As Nuvumiut director Barbara Papigatuk explains, her company did not have to compete for the contracts: “Our business relationship with Bradley qualified us an Inuit enterprise, and with that status we were able enter direct negotiations with SMRQ [Socit Minire Raglan du Qubec — the Falconbridge subsidiary that owns and opeates Raglan].”
In 1995, Falconbridge and Makivik Corp. signed the Raglan Agreement, which ensures profit-sharing and guaranteed contributions to the Inuit of Nunavik. Makivik helps guide development projects in the region.
The roughly 1,800 people who live in the surrounding communities have been promised profit-sharing payments over 18 years. The payments will be made to a trust fund.
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