Exploration Firms Encouraged To Talk With Bands

Exploration Firms Encouraged To Talk With Bands

Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 14:54

An official with a Toronto-based firm looking for uranium in northern Saskatchewan says junior exploration companies are not doing enough to keep local First Nations in the know about their activities.

Purepoint Uranium Group is one of several dozen firms doing exploration work in the uranium-rich Athabasca Basin.

Spokesman Chris Frostad says his company has been working with communities in the Far North to see how they can be involved in the exploration work. As a result, his group has employed several members of northern bands.

However, Frostad says there are many companies doing work in the region who aren’t taking the time to talk with the nearby communities about where they plan to work.

Frostad says exploration companies do have a lot of leeway regarding where exactly they search for uranium, so there is room to accommodate First Nations.