Written by Amy Rotman. Originally published on Mining.com.au.

Securing the future of Canada’s minerals industry depends not only on geology and capital, but on the trust, collaboration, and buy-in from First Nations communities whose lands and rights are central to exploration success.

The Canadian mining industry is regulated by the individual provinces and territories where projects are located, with each jurisdiction holding its own legislation covering mining, the environment, health and safety, and Indigenous rights.

Canada’s Indigenous peoples are rights holders under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (CA). Section 35 stipulates that constitutionally-protected Aboriginal and treaty rights of Indigenous peoples must be respected in relation to resource developments.

The Government of Canada also has a duty to consult and accommodate Indigenous groups when it determines that treaty rights may be impacted by exploration or other work. The duty to consult is managed by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), which advises the federal government on policy direction, information sharing, developing partnerships, coordination with the provinces and territories, and training.

Beyond the regulatory frameworks, though, lies the licence to operate — a social licence that comes through meaningful partnerships and open communication with First Nations.

For exploration companies, this means moving beyond compliance to build trust, respect treaty rights, and ensure Indigenous communities share in the benefits of resource development.

Without that collaboration and buy-in, projects risk delays, opposition, and ultimately failure, making Indigenous engagement as critical to success as geology or financing.

Indigenous rights across the globe need to be holistically embedded into an organisation’s corporate governance, operations, and strategy. A lack of buy-in can directly impact a company’s path to success, with project approvals, investor confidence, financing, and long-term viability all tied to these approvals.

Across Canada, provinces and territories have their own recommendations for best practice, including Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) in British Columbia. AME stresses that dialogue and understanding are essential to building the positive relationships integral for successful resource development.

AME has set out an Indigenous Engagement Toolkit that provides guidance on Indigenous engagement best practices, including how to build constructive relationships with Indigenous communities.

These resources outline best practices, but the real test lies in how companies embed consultation into day-to-day operations. Across Canada, more companies are moving beyond compliance to demonstrate that genuine partnerships with Indigenous communities can shape both project outcomes and corporate resilience. These approaches highlight how consultation, collaboration, and shared benefit are becoming the cornerstone of exploration success.

Collaboration is increasingly taking shape through innovative models that embed Indigenous participation directly into a company’s operations. These include Indigenous-led equity, early-stage dialogue, and targeted funding programs such as the Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP), which incentivises participation from Indigenous businesses.

Redefining social licence through ownership, equity, dialogue, and trust

In June 2026, Solid Gold Resources announced an arrangement agreement with Apitipi Anicinapek Nation (AAN) and Apitipi Anicinapek Asini Resources (AAARC). Under the agreement, AARC is to acquire all of Solid Gold’s mining claims, covering 21,000 hectares in Northern Ontario’s Lake Abitibi area. This is a landmark deal, believed to be the first Indigenous-led acquisition of a Canadian junior mining company.

Through AAARC, AAN will hold majority equity and board control of mineral tenure located within its Treaty 9 territory, providing the nation with the ability to advance development with the participation, consent, and benefit of its community.

Chief Negotiator for AAN Lance Black says the transaction marks an important milestone, transforming past challenges into a foundation for cooperation, mutual respect, and trust.

“We hope this agreement sets a benchmark for future generations who aspire to maintain their autonomy as Indigenous peoples while strengthening their roles in the mining industry,” Black says.

Taking Solid Gold’s transaction as a precedent for Indigenous ownership, other companies are also demonstrating how different models of engagement are reshaping the Canadian mining landscape.

Nicola Mining Inc. (NASDAQ: NICM; TSX.V: NIM; FSE: HLIA) has established a direct partnership with its Indigenous neighbour and partners. The company’s sand and gravel pit and rock quarry, while not its core business focus, is of strong significance to both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities near Merritt, British Columbia.

Nicola Mining sand and gravel pit and rock quarry near Merritt, British Columbia — *Sand & Gravel Pit / Rock Quarry.*

Following the 2021 floods in the region, Nicola Mining mobilised to assist with the repairs of infrastructure that was destroyed. The company entered a joint venture (JV) with Lower Nicola Site Services (LNSS), an indirectly majority-owned company in partnership between the Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corporation and Infracon Construction.

The five-year JV provided LNSS the rights to extract riprap for the reconstruction of vital infrastructure damaged by the floods as well as to mitigate future flooding damage.

Nicola Mining CEO Peter Espig said at the time that the JV agreement was a “significant milestone for the company”, highlighting its commitment to collaborate with interested First Nations groups.

Nicola and LNSS continue to work closely, having completed the expansion of the Nicola quarry gravel pit in September 2025 and full construction of a ready-mix concrete plant. This work fulfills the company’s commitment to infrastructure support in the province while underscoring its regional partnerships with First Nations communities.

“We recognise that the rock quarry, gravel pit, and cement ready-mix plant are not our long-term core revenue generators; however it all contributes to a solid bottom line. In addition, these operations are a catalyst to work closely with First Nations, local communities, and numerous infrastructure projects,” Espig says.

Nicola Mining is a British Columbia-based gold and silver producer and copper explorer with an additional mill and tailings facility as well as a sand and gravel/rock quarry.

Canuc Resources (TSX-V: CDA) stresses consultation, both formal and informal, as its cornerstone for success.

CEO Christopher Berlet notes that the company has comprehensive and regular formal consultation with both the Wahnapitae and Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nations, which has helped to solidify its relationships. He highlights that all matters of development relevant to the community need to be on the table when discussing plans, including water use and testing, disturbance plans, rehabilitation plans, and more.

Berlet explains that responsible development hinges on engagement and consultation.

“When done properly, relationships are developed and serve to assist and advantage the proponents (companies) as project requirements advance,” Berlet says.

Canuc Resources is developing the wholly owned East Sudbury Project in Ontario, interpreted as a mineral system that can form iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) and affiliated critical and precious metal deposits.

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