Scandium Canada Ltd. (TSX-V: SCD) has expressed strong support for the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach's announcement regarding the first phase of the Naskapi Nuuhchiimiiu Maaskinuw Project, a Nation-led initiative to assess potential multi-user access corridor options within Nuchimiyuschiiy – the traditional Naskapi Nation territory. The Company commended the Naskapi Nation for its leadership in evaluating environmental, cultural, social, and economic implications of such infrastructure.
As detailed in the Naskapi Nation's official press release on June 12, the initiative is a community-driven assessment grounded in engagement with community members, Elders, land users, and neighbouring Nations. The project aims to gather information, conduct due diligence, and support informed decision-making. Scandium Canada firmly believes that decisions about infrastructure in Nunavik must involve all First Nations and Inuit sharing that territory, and the Company recognizes the priorities the Naskapi Nation has placed at the centre of this work: environmental stewardship, traditional land use, Indigenous governance, and collaboration.
“We commend the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach for the leadership it is showing with the potential multi-user access corridor of the Nuuhchiimiiu Maaskinuw Project,” said Guy Bourassa, Chief Executive Officer of Scandium Canada. “What matters to us is that the benefits of development reach the people whose land makes it possible. We are deeply committed to a relationship that delivers lasting, shared value to the Naskapi Nation and neighbouring communities.”
Scandium Canada emphasizes that the Nuuhchiimiiu Maaskinuw Project is an independent initiative led by the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach. The Company fully respects the objectives of the assessment, which is intended to gather information, carry out due diligence, and support informed decision-making on future infrastructure options. In alignment with the Nation's initiative, Scandium Canada continues its own engagement with the Indigenous communities connected to the Crater Lake project, which includes a hydrometallurgical plant in Schefferville, with the goal of fostering dialogue, understanding community priorities, and building lasting relationships based on trust, mutual respect, and collaboration.
This announcement underscores the importance of Indigenous-led infrastructure planning in Nunavik. By advancing the first phase of the Naskapi Nuuhchiimiiu Maaskinuw Project, the Naskapi Nation is setting a precedent for community-driven development that prioritizes environmental and cultural considerations. The outcome of this assessment could influence future multi-user access corridors, potentially benefiting mining projects like Scandium Canada's Crater Lake project by providing infrastructure that respects Indigenous rights and land use.
Scandium Canada's support for the Naskapi Nation's initiative reflects a broader recognition that sustainable development in the region requires meaningful partnership with Indigenous communities. The Company's Crater Lake project aims to become North America's most significant primary source of scandium, a critical element for lightweight aluminum-scandium alloys used in aerospace and defense. However, the Company acknowledges that the success of such projects hinges on building trust and ensuring that benefits are shared equitably.
For more information about Scandium Canada and its commitment to responsible development, visit www.scandium-canada.com. The original press release can be viewed at www.newmediawire.com.
Forward-looking statements in this release are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. The Naskapi Nuuhchiimiiu Maaskinuw Project is an initiative led by the Naskapi Nation, and Scandium Canada makes no representation as to its outcome. The Company disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.
