Mi’kmaq chiefs in N.S. sign royalties deal with proposed coal mine – CTV

June 9, 2016

MEMBERTOU, N.S. — A potentially “groundbreaking” royalty deal between 11 Mi’kmaq chiefs in Nova Scotia and a coal mining giant for a proposed undersea coal mine may signal companies are more willing to share resource wealth with First Nations, says an expert on aboriginal economic development.

Harold Calla, executive chair of the First Nations Financial Management Board, says the accord between the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs and Kameron Coal Management Ltd. is rare because it applies to bands in Nova Scotia located hundreds of kilometres from the mine site itself.

The Squamish band member and aboriginal accountant says the expanding law around the duty of companies to consult has encouraged companies to cut these kinds of deals — and First Nations are likely to continue pursuing them vigorously.

Read More: http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/mi-kmaq-chiefs-in-n-s-sign-royalties-deal-with-proposed-coal-mine-1.2938036