New Uranium Mining Projects - Northwest Territories & Nunavut, Canada 
(last updated 8 Jul 2008)
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Baker Lake / Kiggavik
> See also: New Uranium Mining Projects - Canada (Archive)
The following companies are performing uranium prospection and/or exploration in the Northwest Territories / Nunavut:
Alberta Star Development Corp.,
De Beers Canada Inc. 
,
Majescor Resources Inc. ,
Diamonds North Resources Ltd. ,
Uranium North Resources Corp. ,
MAX Resource Corp. ,
Pathfinder Resources Ltd. ,
Pitchstone Exploration Ltd ,
Triex Minerals Corporation ,
Uravan Minerals Inc.,
Ur-Energy Inc.,
Yankee Hat Minerals Ltd. ,
Eastmain Resources Inc. ,
Ruby Hill Exploration Inc. ,
COGEMA Resources Inc.,
Solitaire Minerals Corp. ,
Western Uranium Corporation ,
Adriana Resources Inc. ,
Xemplar Energy Corp. ,
Garuda Capital Corp. ,
Superior Diamonds Inc. ,
Forum Uranium Corp. ,
Landmark Minerals Inc. ,
Goliath Resources Inc. ,
Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd ,
Unor Inc. ,
GenX Resource Corporation, Inc. ,
North American Gem Inc. ,
Hinterland Metals Inc. ,
Kaminak Gold Corporation ,
Kivalliq Energy Corp. ,
Rockgate Capital Corp. ,
Galore Resources Inc. ,
Great Bear Resources plc ,
Jalna Minerals Ltd. ,
Ucore Uranium Inc. ,
Universal Power Corp. ,
UVC Uranium Inc. ,
Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. ,
Millennia Resources AG ,
Arctic Hunter Uranium Inc.
Déline supports application for uranium exploration project
The Déline Land Corp. and the Community of Déline granted Solitaire Minerals Corp. permission to file a formal application to the SAHTU Land and Water Board with the Community's support. Solitaire plans to drill the Eldorado and Mystery Island properties. (Solitaire Apr. 23, 2008)
Déline says no and/or yes to further uranium development
The Déline Land Corp. will oppose all future uranium development in its district until outstanding issues having to do with the old Port Radium mine are resolved, the organization announced recently.
(Northern News Services Jan. 21, 2008)
However, according to an Alberta Star release of Feb. 7, 2008, Déline Land Corp. acknowledges its full support for Alberta Star's Eldorado & Contact Lake iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) & uranium project.
And, on May 5, 2008, Alberta Star announced that it has formally signed an amendment to their original "Master Access & Benefits" agreement with the Déline Land Corporation allowing it to proceed with the permitting and development of the Eldorado South IOCG & uranium project.
> View Port Radium decommissioning
Review Board recommends rejection of uranium exploration at Screech Lake property for cultural impacts
On May 8, 2007, the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board released the Report of Environmental Assessment for Ur Energy's proposed uranium exploration at the Screech Lake property in the upper Thelon watershed.
"It is the Review Board's opinion that this development, in combination with the cumulative effects of other present and reasonably foreseeable future developments in the Upper Thelon basin, will cause adverse cultural impacts of a cumulative nature to areas of very high spiritual importance to aboriginal peoples. These impacts are so significant that the development cannot be justified.
The Review Board has recommended, pursuant to Section 128(1)(d) of the MVRMA [Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act ] that the project be rejected without an Environmental Impact Review."
A public hearing on the project had been held in Lutsël K'e, NWT, on Jan. 16/17, 2007. It is now up to the federal Minister of Indian Affairs to decide whether to accept the recommendation.
> Download Report of Environmental Assessment and Reasons for Decision On Ur Energy Inc. Screech Lake uranium exploration project (EA 0607-003), May 7, 2007 (4.5M PDF - Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board)
> View Public Registry - Project Document Summary: Ur Energy - Screech Lake (2006) - EA0607-003 [2006]
In a letter to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said he agreed with its recommendation to block Ur-Energy's uranium exploration program on the Upper Thelon area east of Great Slave Lake.
(The Canadian Press Oct. 25, 2007)
Lutselk'e Dene First Nation remains opposed to uranium mining
The Lutselk'e Dene First Nation of the Northwest Territories remains totally opposed to uranium mining, said Monica Kreiger, manager of wildlife, lands and environment.
The First Nation is concerned about its impact on the environment and the region's caribou herds, she said.
It also wants to make sure the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary is protected, she said.
(CBC Nov. 23, 2006)
Nunavut MLA denounces Inuit organizations' conflict of interest concerning mining projects
The Government of Nunavut should wade into impact and benefit talks with mining firms because Inuit organizations have put themselves into conflicts of interest and do not protect Inuit interests in such talks, Tunnuniq Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) James Arvaluk said May 28, 2008, in the legislative assembly of Nunavut .
Arvaluk, whose community of Pond Inlet sits on the doorstep of the massive Mary River iron ore project, said Inuit land-owning organizations "are only paying lip service to Inuit" when they negotiate with mining companies.
And Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s part-ownership of a uranium exploration firm called the Kivalliq Energy Corp. puts the organization in a conflict of interest, Arvaluk said.
"When will the Government of Nunavut start participating in these talks to protect the interests of the people of Nunavut?" Arvaluk asked Levinia Brown, the deputy premier.
(Nunatsiaq News June 6, 2008)
Inuit organization Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. is getting into the uranium business
A junior mining company from Vancouver, Kaminak Gold Corp. , announced Jan. 31, 2008, that it had struck a deal with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) to explore for uranium in the Kivalliq region, about 200 km inland from Whale Cove.
The deal, or memorandum of understanding, is unusual for a few reasons.
It's the first time NTI has given permission for a company to hunt for the radioactive material on Inuit-owned land.
More importantly, the deal would give NTI partial ownership of the spin-off company created by Kaminak to search for uranium.
Under the deal with Kaminak, NTI would get one million shares of the new company, which has not yet been named. It's unclear how big a piece of the company this will be, as the total number of shares has not yet been announced.
NTI would also get an annual payment of $50,000 in royalties, as the owner of subsurface rights to the land.
And, once a feasibility study is complete, NTI would have the choice of either taking a 25 per cent interest in the company, or 7.5 per cent of net profits.
As well, if the company produces 12 million pounds [4,615 t U] of uranium, it must pay NTI $1 million.
The deal gives Kaminak the right to explore 18,000 acres. When added to surrounding properties that Kaminak controls, the company now has rights to explore 250,000 acres. It calls the whole area Angilak, which is Inuktitut for "biggest."
The property includes the high-grade Lac Cinquante deposit, which Kaminak believes holds 11.6 million pound [4,462 t U] of uranium.
(Nunatsiaq News Feb. 8, 2008)
> See also: NTI Grants Uranium Rights to Kaminak Gold, Feb. 7, 2008 (PDF - NTI)
Inuit organization reverses ban on uranium mining on Inuit-owned land
The Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Board has approved the reversal of its previous ban on uranium mining on Inuit-owned lands.
> Download NTI release: NTI Board of Directors Approves Uranium Policy, Sep. 18, 2007 (PDF)
> Download Policy Concerning Uranium Mining in Nunavut , Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, September 11, 2007 (PDF)
> Download Background Paper On the NTI Uranium Policy , Department of Lands and Resources, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, November 2006 (PDF)
Uranium exploration permits issued on caribou calving grounds
Conservation groups are up in arms after uranium exploration permits have been issued for areas regarded as caribou calving grounds.
Monte Hummel, president of World Wildlife Fund Canada , expressed concerns over uranium exploration permits issued for caribou calving grounds. Those permits are being issued against the recommendations of the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board, a group working on behalf of local hunters and trappers to ensure the continued health of the herds.
Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Repulse Bay and Arviat hamlets have all passed motions supporting uranium development.
In conjunction with the meetings held in Baker Lake, this will fulfill the two clauses of the land use plan giving a green light to continue uranium development in the area.
(Northern News Services June 27, 2007)
Inuit organization ready to give uranium mining another chance
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. vice-president James Eetoolook said the lands claims organization is now willing to reconsider its stance, as long the uranium is not used for nuclear weapons.
"We still have many concerns about this radioactive material - and that will always be the case," Eetoolook told CBC News.
"But if it's handled and used properly and in a safe way, we can support this."
(CBC Nov. 23, 2006)
NTI's draft uranium policy concerns caribou board
A biologist in the central Arctic says she's concerned a draft uranium mining policy for the region is too pro-industry.
Leslie Wakelyn, a biologist for the Beverly Qamanirjuaq Caribou management board , says the document is hardly a good place to begin discussion on the issue.
"The policy and consultation documents both provided a very pro-uranium argument and did not provide an analysis of the pros and cons of uranium mining that would be necessary for the board of directors to make a decision on the issue," she said.
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the territory's land claim organization, is developing the policy on uranium mining, and is asking for input on the policy from regional Inuit and government organizations.
Wakelyn's group, which monitors the two herds that calve on the tundra in the central Arctic, wasn't included in the consultation. But it obtained a copy of the draft- and are concerned how the draft indicates uranium mining will have a minimal effect on caribou.
She said the draft doesn't provide the analysis to back that up, and isn't a balanced starting point for discussion.
"What's needed is a balanced discussion of the issues, both pro and con, in terms of uranium mining in Nunavut in order for people to make good decisions," she said.
Hunters and trappers in Kugluktuk, a community the north coast of the mainland in the central Arctic, also feel the draft policy is pro-mining.
HTO president Peter Taptuna says they are asking NTI for more information, especially about how uranium exploration and mining could affect the Coppermine river.
(CBC May 18, 2006)
Inuit organization reversing ban on uranium mining on Inuit-owned land
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. has reversed its previous ban on uranium mining on Inuit-owned lands, according to a new draft policy released to several groups for review and obtained by Nunatsiaq News.
(Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) is the incorporated organization that represents Inuit under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA). NTI is responsible for the management of all Inuit-Owned Lands in Nunavut and acts as the advocate of Inuit interests in Nunavut. NTI is governed by a Board of Directors elected by Inuit in Nunavut.)
NTI disallowed mining for uranium on Inuit-owned lands after the hamlet of Baker Lake successfully rallied support against the proposed Kigavvik uranium mine in the late 1980s.
Currently, NTI does not grant uranium rights to mining and exploration companies who apply to mine subsurface Inuit-owned lands.
That ban was initially put in place during a wave of protest against uranium mining and its possible negative effects on the environment, including caribou herds.
The draft policy re-interprets that ban to mean that NTI retains the rights to uranium on Inuit owned lands, and suggests that NTI could participate in future uranium mining projects, or extract additional royalty payments from mining and exploration companies who apply to work with uranium on these lands.
The document shows enthusiasm for uranium mining in Nunavut, and calls for a "thorough compilation and analysis of the uranium potential on all IOL [Inuit-owned lands]."
(Nunatsiaq News May 5, 2006)
> View project ownership details
Kiggavik JV partners decide to proceed with feasibility study and to initiate approval process
The partners in the Kiggavik project have decided to proceed with a two-year feasibility study and to initiate the regulatory process to obtain the necessary approvals for a uranium mine and mill complex.
The Kiggavik project is said to be at an advanced exploration stage, with a resource estimate of some 57,000 tonnes of uranium at an average grade of about 0.24%. Areva will submit a project description in early 2008, commencing the regulatory process. The environmental assessment process is expected to take about four years, followed by several years of construction, before mining could begin as early as 2015.
(WNN Dec. 4, 2007)
Areva is opening office in Baker Lake to garner support for its proposed uranium mine
Areva Resources Canada is opening an office in Nunavut's Baker Lake to garner support for its proposed uranium mine.
Fifteen years ago, the Inuit hamlet of 1,500 rejected a proposed uranium mine.
(CBC 23 Oct. 2006)
Revocation of Mining Facility Removal Licence
Following a public hearing on April 18, 2002, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) on May 16, 2002, announced its decision to revoke the Mining Facility Removal Licence for the Kiggavik-Sissons Project, operated by COGEMA Resources Inc. (CRI).
> View CNSC Release May 16, 2002
> Download Record of Proceedings, including the Reasons for Decision (PDF)
> Download Transcript of April 18, 2002, Hearing (PDF)
> Download amended CNSC Notice of Hearing (Feb. 6, 2002) (PDF)