Rio Tinto agreement good for Cheslatta

CHESLATTA – The “real work” is set to begin after an historic dedal was inked between the Cheslatta Carrier First Nation and Rio Tinto last week.

According to the Rio Tinto website, the New Day Agreement “… will promote the social and economic well-being of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation through engagement in the areas of training, employment, business opportunities and environmental stewardship. Measures include support for a remote training center built on Cheslatta property in 2018, which will deliver diverse trades, skills, safety, marine and driver training courses. The agreement also establishes the New Day Scholarship Fund, which can provide scholarships for Cheslatta students of all ages.”

“The agreement also provides for the creation of the Nechako Reservoir Stewardship Program, a joint initiative that will leverage local knowledge to maintain the Nechako Reservoir watershed ecosystem…”

“The real work’s going start with implementation and implementation does mean the healing of the land, the water, relationship building with our neighbours who are impacted up and downstream,” says Corinna Leween, Chief of the Cheslatta Carrier First Nation,