The Taku River Tlingit First Nation and Canagold Resources Ltd. March 29 announced that they have entered into a historic agreement that establishes a framework for a long-term cooperative and mutually respectful working relationship between the parties in support of Canagold's efforts to advance exploration and permitting activities at the New Polaris gold project on the Tulsequah River in Northern British Columbia.

"Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRTFN) is leading the way with mining company relationships. Consent agreements are beginning with our nation and our people," says Jìnìk (Charmaine Thom), spokesperson for the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. "This is the new standard TRTFN expects in our relationships with partners and developers."

TRTFN says the consent-based decision-making process outlined in the agreement demonstrates that reconciliation, economic development, and sustainable practices can go hand in hand within the T'akú Tlatsini Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA), which covers roughly 18,000 square kilometers (7,000 square miles) of the Taku River watershed.

Extending roughly 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast from the southern tip of Atlin Lake and approximately 110 kilometers (70 miles) east of the Alaska border near Juneau, the T'akú Tlatsini IPCA covers a biodiverse ecosystem that includes all five species of Pacific salmon and supports large mammal predator-prey relationships from the inland boreal forest and glacier-fed streams to coastal transition zones.

This watershed also lies within BC's Golden Triangle, a region famed for its rich stores of gold, copper, and other metals.

As a balance between nature preservation and mining opportunities, roughly 60% of the IPCA encompasses already established and newly designated protected areas. The remaining 40% would be specially managed areas that provide opportunities for respectful mineral extraction and other uses.

Located near the Tulsequah River, a tributary of the Taku River within the IPCA, Canagold's New Polaris is the site of a historical high-grade gold mine that produced 232,000 ounces of gold from roughly 691,000 metric tons of ore grading 11.9 grams per metric ton gold during intermittent operations between 1938 and 1957.

Toward the goal of establishing a modern mine, Canagold has completed 64,000 meters of drilling at New Polaris since acquiring this mesothermal gold deposit in 1992.

According to a 2019 resource estimate, New Polaris hosts 1.69 million metric tons of indicated resource averaging 10.8 g/t (586,00 oz) gold, and 1.48 million metric tons of inferred resource averaging 10.2 g/t (485,000 oz) gold.

A preliminary economic assessment completed at the time outlined plans for a 750-metric-ton-per-day operation that would produce an average of approximately 80,000 oz of gold annually for nearly nine years.

During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Canagold completed 39,000 meters of drilling that will be used to calculate a new resource estimate that will support a feasibility study for a mining project the company plans to submit for permitting early next year.

For the project to develop into an operational mine, provincial approval will be required, which is contingent on the consent of the Taku River Tlingit citizens.

The collaborative engagement agreement between TRTFN and Canagold provides capacity funding for TRTFN staff to fully engage with the company during their feasibility and environmental assessment processes.

"Canagold is pleased to announce a pioneering agreement with the Taku River Tlingit First Nation for the development of Canagold's New Polaris project located in the traditional territory of the TRTFN," said Canagold Resources CEO Catalin Kilofliski. "The arrangement puts our collaboration on a firm foundation and forges a path forward for our sustainable economic development in the spirit of mutual benefits, trust and environmental stewardship."

Consent for Canagold's plans to develop a modern mine at New Polaris will be established at a joint clan meeting, where all Taku River Tlingit citizens will have the opportunity to vote on the decision.

The Northern BC First Nation says there is much work to be done before a joint clan meeting decision – this work being a comprehensive Taku River Tlingit citizen engagement strategy that will include meetings to inform the citizens of the ongoing work, potential impacts, mitigation plans and benefits of developing the site into an operational mine to enable for a free, prior and informed decision regarding the project.

TRTFN says Canagold has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to good relations with the First Nation over the years. This has included local employment throughout the exploration phase, site visits for staff and citizens, and open sharing of project information.

Tak'hu River Tlingit

Click on image for larger map.

"We look forward to working collaboratively with Canagold and crown regulators with respect to sustainable resource extraction and economic development in our territory," said Thom.

Author Bio

Shane Lasley, Publisher

Over his more than 16 years of covering mining and mineral exploration, Shane has become renowned for his ability to report on the sector in a way that is technically sound enough to inform industry insiders while being easy to understand by a wider audience.

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