First Phosphate Corp has signed a collaboration agreement with the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nations regarding its proposed phosphate mine and Lithium Iron Phosphate cathode active material plant project in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Region of Quebec, Canada. The agreement, signed by First Phosphate CEO John Passalacqua and Vice President of Government Relations Armand Mackenzie, along with representatives from the Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan, establishes comprehensive guidelines for multiple aspects of the project development. This framework addresses employment opportunities, business horizons, and environmental protection across the Nitassinan or ancestral lands of the First Nation.
The collaboration agreement specifically outlines protocols for harmonizing exploration work with the members of the First Nation who occupy the Nitassinan territory, ensuring that all activities respect the traditional lands and practices of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh people. The agreement also provides for supervision of future work, creating a mechanism for ongoing oversight and cooperation between the company and the First Nation community. This structured approach to project development represents a significant advancement in industry-Indigenous relations within the Canadian mining sector.
Future access to the industrial park at Mashteuiatsh for project development and financial participation in the project by the First Nation are also under consideration as part of the agreement framework. The Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation has committed to collaborating with First Phosphate in establishing rare igneous phosphate as a critical and strategic mineral at the Canadian federal levels of government. This joint advocacy effort could have substantial implications for the recognition and development of phosphate resources within Canada's critical minerals strategy.
The collaboration agreement marks a crucial milestone in the development of First Phosphate's project, demonstrating the company's commitment to working closely with the local First Nations community. By establishing clear guidelines for employment, environmental protection, and economic participation, the agreement aims to ensure that the project proceeds in a manner that respects the rights and interests of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nations while advancing Canada's position in the global battery materials supply chain. This partnership approach reflects evolving standards for resource development that prioritize meaningful Indigenous engagement and benefit-sharing arrangements.
