Strategic, Yukon First Nation agreement

Teslin Tlingit Council and Strategic Metals Ltd. Oct. 24 announced the signing of an access and exploration agreement that aims to deepen relations and create the foundation for future cooperation between the Yukon First Nation and mineral exploration company.

Typically staying under the radar, Strategic Metals' portfolio is spread over 110 wholly-owned properties, five joint ventures, nine under options, and 11 with royalty interests.

All of these cover a broad suite of metals, including gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, tin, tungsten, vanadium, and lithium, in as many such deposits as these resources can be found in.

Strategic management has also been involved in the discovery and/or advancement of a number of major Yukon deposits that include Casino, Wolverine, Wellgreen, Division Mountain, Klaza, Tiger Osiris, Golden Revenue, Blende, Carmacks Copper, Logtung, Marg, Ice, and the list could go on.

Through property farmouts, timely investments, and royalty sales, Strategic Metals has grown to be a titan of Yukon mineral discovery and exploration.

With the latest agreement, Strategic hopes to improve communication between them and Teslin Tlingit Council, as well as develop a respectful relationship based on cooperation and exploration activities on First Nation traditional territory.

"TTC and Strategic have a long history of working together," said Teslin Tlingit Council Chief Eric Morris. "This agreement formalizes our commitment to cooperation and early consultation. It sets the bar as to how mining companies should work and engage with First Nation governments."

As a self-governing First Nation, TTC is based in Teslin in Southern Yukon. Situated within its traditional territory, the meeting grounds during the warmer months turned permanent settlement upon construction of the Alaska Highway in 1942.

Today, Teslin is an incorporated municipality within the Yukon and houses the majority of TTC's government structure.

"We expect no less from all exploration and mining companies who want to do business on our traditional territory," said Morris.

Aside from setting the groundwork for enriching and positive collaboration, other key objectives of the agreement include:

• Providing business and employment opportunities to TTC, citizens, and businesses.

• Establishing environmental monitoring mechanisms to oversee exploration activities.

• Establishing a committee composed of the parties to discuss matters related to exploration and oversee the implementation of the agreement.

• Set a framework for long-term consultation as well as the negotiation of a more comprehensive project-specific agreement if exploration activities are successful.

"Strategic has undertaken to engage with TTC as soon as claims are acquired in order to develop cooperative and respectful relationships, identify local business and employment opportunities, and build support for mineral exploration and development," said Strategic Metals President and CEO Douglas Eaton. "The ongoing consultation should make Strategic more aware of TTC concerns and give TTC a better understanding of preferred exploration techniques and their alternatives."

At present, Strategic currently holds six projects within the TTC traditional territory, including the Hidden and Obvious tungsten projects, the Byng and Grayling gold projects, and the Con and Convert silver-lead-zinc projects.

Consultation is expected to begin at the earliest stages of exploration and continue throughout the duration of the projects.

"This access and exploration agreement provides a clear framework for early stage consultation, and a path forward to early stage consultation, and a path forward to develop a more comprehensive cooperation and benefits agreement, should a project move from exploration to economic evaluation," finished Eaton.