Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation has secured the ore haulage contract for Vale’s Totten Mine, located about 40 minutes southwest of Sudbury through its Z’Gamok Construction LP, a corporation owned by the First Nation.
Sagamok Chief Nelson Toulouse says the agreement is a historic development for the First Nation, noting it would enable “greater control over the contract, create more job opportunities and revenue for Sagamok Anishnawbek.”
“One of those longstanding and strong partnerships is with TBell Transport located in Nairn, explains Toulouse.
Sagamok and TBell Transport entered into an agreement to have TBell undertake the contract on our behalf from June 1, 2014, to May 31, 2019, with the understanding the First Nation would take control of the contract when it expired.
Toulouse adds Sagamok will officially take over the contract on June 1.
“Z’gamok Construction LP will also have the mandate to pursue other contract opportunities that flow from the IBA (impact benefit agreement).”
Sagamok Anishnawbek, whose name means ‘two points joining,’ is located along the north shore of Lake Huron.
The community counts more than 2,000 members, with a little over 50 percent living on-reserve. Vale’s Totten nickel mine went into operation in 2014 at a cost of $760 million. At the time, it marked the first new mine to open in Sudbury in 40 years.
The mine employs 200 people and has an expected lifespan of 20 years.