VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 9, 2023
/CNW/ - FPX Nickel Corp. (TSXV: FPX) (OTCQB: FPOCF)
("FPX" or the "Company") is commenting on recent
public communications from Tl'azt'en Nation with respect to the
2012 Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") between Tl'azt'en
Nation, family Keyoh Holders, and FPX, and concerns expressed
related to resource development.
FPX is focused on development of the Baptiste Nickel Project in
central British Columbia, which is
currently at a pre-feasibility level of study and has not yet
entered the provincial or federal environmental assessment
processes. The Baptiste area is located on the traditional
territories of Tl'azt'en Nation and Binche Whut'en and within
several Tl'azt'enne and Binche Whut'enne keyohs, a traditional
governance system of the Dakelh people of the Stuart-Trembleur Lake
area. Since 2009, FPX has maintained regular engagement with
Tl'azt'en Nation, formalizing those activities with the MoU signed
in 2012, which defines protocols for engagement for all exploration
activities occurring on Tl'azt'en territory and enshrines
confidentiality of information sharing between the parties.
FPX acknowledges the potential impacts of resource projects and
the concerns that Indigenous communities have expressed for such
activities occurring on their territories. The Company has
been working collaboratively and meeting with Indigenous
communities to understand key valued species and habitats in order
to avoid and minimize impacts, and to identify significant
mitigations and enhancements that have the potential to create
long-term environmental benefits for the local area. The
Company is committed to ensuring the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
are respected, and is focused on working collaboratively with
Indigenous leadership to advance a modern mining project that is
aligned with global sustainable development goals and that protects
people and the environment.
"FPX's core values are collaboration, safety, and respect. We
have heard the concerns expressed by Tl'azt'en Nation and believe
we can develop a project that can support the goal of safeguarding
the well-being of people, protecting the environment, and
preserving Indigenous culture. We will continue to work in
the spirit of partnership towards this goal," said FPX's President
and CEO, Martin Turenne. "The
Baptiste project represents a significant opportunity for First
Nations, the governments of British
Columbia and Canada,
and FPX to work together to develop a project that creates
substantial and sustainable benefits while protecting the
environment for future generations."
FPX looks forward to continuing to evaluate all aspects of the
potential project, building on our current program of on-going
geological and engineering studies, Indigenous-led cultural and
environmental baseline studies, and continued early engagement with
all potentially-affected communities.
FPX also has an exploration and development Memorandum of
Agreement ("MoA") with Binche Keyoh Bu Society, which
represents the keyoh families within the Binche Whut'en in central
British Columbia. Binche Whut'en was constituted in
March 2019 as a newly recognized
First Nation by the Government of Canada. For further
information on the MoA, see the Company's June 21, 2022 news release.
About the Decar Nickel
District
The Company's Decar Nickel District represents a large-scale
greenfield discovery of nickel mineralization in the form of a
naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy called awaruite (Ni3Fe)
hosted in an ultramafic/ophiolite complex. FPX's mineral claims
cover an area of 245 km2 west of the Middle River and north of
Trembleur Lake, in central British
Columbia. Awaruite mineralization has been identified in
several target areas within the ophiolite complex including the
Baptiste Deposit and the Van Target, as confirmed by drilling,
petrographic examination, electron probe analyses and outcrop
sampling. Since 2010, approximately US $28
million has been spent on the exploration and development
of Decar.
Of the four targets in the Decar Nickel District, the Baptiste
Deposit has been the focus of increasing resource definition (a
total of 99 holes and 33,700 m of
drilling completed), as well as environmental and engineering
studies to evaluate its potential as a bulk-tonnage open pit mining
project. The Baptiste Deposit is located within the Baptiste Creek
watershed, on the traditional and unceded territories of
Tl'azt'en Nation and Binche Whut'en, and within several Tl'azt'enne
and Binche Whut'enne keyohs. FPX has conducted mineral exploration
activities to date subject to the conditions of agreements with
First Nations and keyoh holders.
About FPX Nickel Corp.
FPX Nickel Corp. is focused on the exploration and development
of the Decar Nickel District, located in central British Columbia, and other occurrences of the
same unique style of naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy
mineralization known as awaruite.
On behalf of FPX Nickel Corp.
"Martin Turenne"
Martin Turenne, President, CEO
and Director
Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain of the statements made and information contained
herein is considered "forward-looking information" within the
meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements
address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks
and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company's periodic filings
with Canadian securities regulators. Actual results could differ
from those currently projected. The Company does not assume the
obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
SOURCE FPX Nickel Corp.