VANCOUVER, BC and WEMINDJI,
QC, June 19, 2015 /CNW Telbec/
- Goldcorp Inc. (TSX: G, NYSE: GG), the Cree Nation of Wemindji, the Grand Council of the Crees
(Eeyou Istchee) and the Cree Nation Government publicly released
the Opinagow Collaboration Agreement (excluding its financial
terms) today, making certain details of the agreement related to
the development and operation of Goldcorp's Eleonore mine
accessible to the public.
"Our relationship with the Crees is built on trust,
collaboration and open communication, and with this step, we are
illustrating those values in a tangible way so others can also
become important supporters in the successful ongoing operation of
the Éléonore Mine," said Mr. Brent
Bergeron, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and
Sustainability, Goldcorp. "We believe that the Agreement will be an
excellent tool to assist Cree and other stakeholders to better
understand what can be possible when all of the respective parties
commit to working together toward shared objectives."
The Opinagow Collaboration Agreement was signed on February 21th, 2011, providing a road
map for a collaborative relationship regarding the development and
operation of Goldcorp's Éléonore mine in Eeyou Istchee, while
respecting Cree traditional activities and ensuring the promotion
of Cree economic and social development in a mutually beneficial
manner.
"The Crees remain committed to building a strong relationship
with Goldcorp, as embodied in the Opinagow Collaboration
Agreement. We sincerely hope that the public release of the
Agreement can serve as a tool to better engage Aboriginal
communities and the mining industry in working together and
building successful and long-standing partnerships." said Grand
Chief Dr. Matthew Coon Come, Grand
Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee).
"I am glad that we can now distribute the Agreement freely in
the Cree Nation and across the country so that people can learn
from the balance we are achieving between protecting tradition
while supporting natural resource development." said Chief
Dennis Georgekish of the Cree Nation
of Wemindji.
"We have successfully overcome the challenges of
developing and maintaining our relationship during the construction
phase of the project and are confident in our ability to continue
building on our relationship as the Éléonore mine ramps up
commercial production," said Guy
Belleau, Eleonore Mine General Manager.
Éléonore is expected to produce between 290,000 and 330,000
ounces of gold in 2015 and, upon ramp-up to full capacity which is
expected to be in the first half of 2018, between 500,000 and
600,000 ounces of gold per year over its productive mine
life. The mine employs 1,265 people, of which 21% (271)
self-identify as Aboriginal.
Governments, authorities and administrators will also benefit
from access to the Opinagow Collaboration Agreement (excluding its
financial terms) by gaining insight on how the parties are actively
addressing local and regional issues of communication, monitoring
and integration of land use interests.
Although the Opinagow Collaboration Agreement is tailored to the
particular structure of the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee to be
compatible with its internal integrated regional and local
government structures as well as the governance philosophy of
Goldcorp, the Parties trust that the disclosure of the Opinagow
Collaboration Agreement (excluding its financial terms) will
provide one more example to the mining industry on the
ways Aboriginal communities and mining companies can
successfully work together to make sustainable commitments to one
another for the mutually beneficial successful development,
operation and reclamation of a project.
Insofar as the financial terms are concerned, the parties will
have further discussions once the legislative framework applicable
thereto is established.
The redacted version of the Opinagow Collaboration agreement is
available on the web site of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou
Istchee) at
http://www.gcc.ca/pdf/Amended_Opinagow_Collaboration_Agreement.PDF
About the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)
The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) is the political
body that represents the approximately 18,000 Crees or "Eeyouch"
(or "Eenouch"). The Board of Directors of the Grand Council of the
Crees (Eeyou Istchee) is constituted of twenty (20) members
including: the Grand Chief and Deputy Grand Chief elected at large
by the Eeyouch, the Chiefs elected by each of the nine (9)
recognized Cree communities, and one (1) other representative
elected by each community. The head office of the Grand Council of
the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) is in the Cree community of Nemaska. The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou
Istchee) also has offices in Montreal, Quebec
City and Ottawa.
About the Cree Nation Government
The Cree Nation Government (formerly the Cree Regional Authority
("CRA") established pursuant to the James
Bay and Northern Québec Agreement) exercises certain
municipal powers on Category II lands and is responsible for land
use and development planning, environmental protection, the
hunting, fishing and trapping regime, economic and community
development, Cree governance and other matters as decided by the
Board of Directors. The Council of the Cree Nation Government is
composed of the same representatives as the Board of Directors of
the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee). These two bodies
often act jointly and are commonly referred to as the
"Council/Board".
About the Cree Nation of Wemindji
The Cree Nation of Wemindji is
located on the east coast of James
Bay in Northern Quebec and
has an approximate population of 1,400 residents. Wemindji is a vibrant community deeply rooted
in Cree tradition with a multitude of services available including
health care and social services, public safety, fire department,
police services, elementary and high school education, as well as
adult education, and daycare services.
About Goldcorp
Goldcorp (TSX: G, NYSE: GG) is one of the world's fastest
growing gold producers. Its low-cost gold production is located in
safe jurisdictions in the Americas and remains 100% unhedged.
www.goldcorp.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements", within
the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 Section 21E of the United States Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Section 27A of the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended and applicable Canadian
securities legislation, concerning the business, operations and
financial performance and condition of Goldcorp Inc. ("Goldcorp").
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements with respect to the future price of gold, silver,
copper, lead and zinc, the estimation of mineral reserves and
resources, the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing
and amount of estimated future production, costs of production,
capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new
deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines,
hedging practices, currency exchange rate fluctuations,
requirements for additional capital, government regulation of
mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation
expenses, timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, title
disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage.
Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by
the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects",
"is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts",
"intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words
and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results
"may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be
achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.
Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain
assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could
cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Goldcorp
to be materially different from future results, performances or
achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such
statements and information are based on numerous assumptions
regarding present and future business strategies and the
environment in which Goldcorp will operate in the future, including
the price of gold, anticipated costs and ability to achieve goals.
Certain important factors that could cause actual results,
performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements include, among others, gold price
volatility, discrepancies between actual and estimated production,
mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries, mining
operational and development risks, litigation risks, regulatory
restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions and
liability), activities by governmental authorities (including
changes in taxation), currency fluctuations, the speculative nature
of gold exploration, the global economic climate, dilution, share
price volatility, competition, loss of key employees, additional
funding requirements and defective title to mineral claims or
property. Although Goldcorp has attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to
differ materially from those described in forward-looking
statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events
or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the
actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of
Goldcorp to be materially different from those expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to:
risks related to the integration of acquisitions; risks related to
international operations, including economic and political
instability in foreign jurisdictions in which Goldcorp operates;
risks related to current global financial conditions; risks related
to joint venture operations; actual results of current exploration
activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold, silver,
copper, lead and zinc; possible variations in ore reserves, grade
or recovery rates; mine development and operating risks; accidents,
labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in
obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion
of development or construction activities; risks related to
indebtedness and the service of such indebtedness, as well as those
factors discussed in the section entitled "Description of the
Business – Risk Factors" in Goldcorp's annual information form for
the year ended December 31, 2014
available at www.sedar.com. Although Goldcorp has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in forward-looking
statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be
as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
are made as of the date hereof and accordingly are subject to
change after such date. Except as otherwise indicated by Goldcorp,
these statements do not reflect the potential impact of any
non-recurring or other special items or of any dispositions,
monetizations, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations
or other transactions that may be announced or that may occur after
the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are provided for the
purpose of providing information about management's current
expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a
better understanding of our operating environment. Goldcorp does
not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are
included in this document, except in accordance with applicable
securities laws.
SOURCE Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)