•The Copper Mountain Mine employs more than 300 people.

•The projected life of the mine is 17 years.

Upper Similkameen Indian Band Chief Charlotte Mitchell says “Our Smelqmix and Syilx Chiefs and Councils have been petitioning BC to share the wealth of the resources in our territories since the time of Sir Wilfred Laurier 1910.

We see this agreement as a small step in the right direction; it will be very beneficial to our Elders and children and our future generations. Many thanks to all of our people that had a part in getting us to this day.”

The Upper Similkameen and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands will be better able to pursue activities that enhance governance, and the social, economic and cultural well-being of their members, thanks to mine-revenue sharing from an Economic and Community Development Agreement (ECDA) for the Copper Mountain Mine, located southwest of Princeton.

Energy/Mines Minister Bill Bennett says “Copper Mountain is one of the first major metal mines to open in B.C. since 1998, and it is great to see the Upper Similkameen and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands receiving the resources they need to help make their communities stronger.”

Through the ECDA signed in March 2013, the two First Nations are receiving more than $400,000, a share of mineral tax revenues collected by the Province from Copper Mountain. The monies will be split equally between the two First Nations.

Current revenues were based on production from the 2012 mine fiscal year, annual payments will continue for the life of the mine. The mine site has an estimated resource of more than two million metric tonnes of copper.

The agreement also contains a comprehensive consultation process that commits the Province to working with the Bands for all potential future mining activity related to the ongoing operation of the Copper Mountain Mine.