http://www.timminspress.com/2016/10/18/ring-of-fire-on-agenda-at-nadf-mining-summit

Ring of Fire on agenda at NADF mining summit

By Alan S. Hale, The Daily Press

Tuesday, October 18, 2016 9:23:30 EDT PM

A speaker addresses participants at the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund's annual mining summit during the last time it was held in Timmins which was 2014.

TIMMINS - The sixth-annual Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund Mining Summit will be returning to Timmins this Thursday at the Days Inn.

The annual summit, which alternates between Timmins and Thunder Bay every year, will be geared toward helping Aboriginal communities take advantage mining-related business opportunities.

“It’s a conference that delivers learning opportunities, capacity-building workshops, and networking experience; we have a lot of people coming in who want to build those business relationships with First Nations, and the conference seems to be the hub for that activity,” explained Denise Hardy, the event’s head organizer.

Summit will begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday with an opening ceremony, after which there will be a trade show which is open to the public as well as panels and speakers on a variety of subjects for registered participants.

The subjects at the seminars include the Ring of Fire, best practices during the development of mining agreements, and transitioning from diesel to environmentally-friendly power.

Hardy noted although the conference is made with First Nations in mind, it is open to non-Indigenous communities and businesses as well. The event already has several mining companies, organizations, banks, and many other people registered.

“This is also about the non-Aboriginal community coming in to meet people who are looking for partners,” she said.

The hope is that by bringing as many different parts of the mining industry together as possible, the easier it will be for Aboriginal communities looking to benefit from the natural resources in their territories to make good deals with good partners.

“If the community is determined to have some economic growth in the community, and they don’t know where to begin, coming to a conference like this is a perfect start,” Hardy said. “Why reinvent the wheel? Just come and see how it’s already been done by many people. You can come and see them and make connections with them, so that way you’ll have a resource.”

Registration for the summit is available online at www.nadfevents.org and will also be available at the door on Thursday.