Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Cameco Sign Collaboration Agreement
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 19, 2017
The Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) and Cameco Corporation, are proud to announce the signing of a collaboration agreement that enhances and sustains their existing relationship and commercial ventures.
The agreement confirms LLRIB’s support for Cameco’s mining operations in northern Saskatchewan, the parties’ commitment to protecting the environment and ensures LLRIB will continue to benefit from employment, business opportunities and community investment from the industry. The two parties have been working together for more than 30 years. The agreement formalizes the responsibilities of each party and provides a roadmap for future success.
“It has been my hope, and the hope of leaders past, to create opportunity for our members through responsible mining,” said Chief Tammy Cook-Searson. “We have successful businesses, trained members, and more financially stable families because of the partnerships we have created. We want to build on these successes with Cameco to continue building healthy and independent communities.”
“We share a strong commitment to seeing northern Saskatchewan thrive, so I know this partnership will benefit all of us,” said Tim Gitzel, president and CEO of Cameco. “The agreement clearly outlines how we will continue to work together to support LLRIB businesses, people and communities.”
The agreement is structured around the pillars of workforce development, business development, community engagement and environmental stewardship, and community investment. Highlights of the agreement include:
Workforce Development
- Maximize employment opportunities through dedicated education funding, training and recruitment
Business Development
- Life of mine contracts for LLRIB businesses Northern Resource Trucking and Athabasca Catering and direct source contracting opportunities for other LLRIB businesses including Can North Environmental
Community Engagement and Environmental Stewardship
- Requirement for specific engagement activities to ensure that the LLRIB is effectively informed and engaged about activities at Cameco’s existing operations and measures to protect the environment, and has an opportunity to raise issues of concern to the community.
Community Investment
- Annual production-based payments will be made to a community trust to be used for community projects and infrastructure
Cameco and LLRIB will form a joint implementation committee that will meet throughout the year to review matters at the operations and monitor the implementation of the agreement.
The agreement is designed to remain effective until the closure of the last of Cameco’s existing operations in northern Saskatchewan, including Key Lake, McArthur River, Cigar Lake and Rabbit Lake.
About Lac La Ronge Indian Band
Located in north-central Saskatchewan, the LLRIB is the largest First Nation in Saskatchewan, and one of the 10 largest in Canada with more than 10,000 members. The band’s reserve lands extend from rich farmlands in central Saskatchewan, all the way north through the boreal forest to the Churchill River and beyond. Its central administration office is located in La Ronge. LLRIB has a strong record for developing educational opportunities, successful businesses and social development work made possible by many years of strong leadership.
About Cameco
Cameco is one of the world’s largest uranium producers, a significant supplier of conversion services and one of two Candu fuel manufacturers in Canada. Our competitive position is based on our controlling ownership of the world’s largest high-grade reserves and low-cost operations. Our uranium products are used to generate clean electricity in nuclear power plants around the world. We also explore for uranium in the Americas and Asia. Our shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Our head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
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For more information, contact:
Lac La Ronge Indian Band
Darwin Roy - (306) 425-1137
Cameco Corporation
Gord Struthers - (306) 956-6593