APITIPI ANICINAPEK NATION - An Indigenous-owned company is taking significant strides to enhance its presence in the mining industry.
Apitipi Resources Limited Partnership (ARLP) has created new partnerships with Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc. and Moreau.
The collaboration with Milestone aims to provide essential environmental services, including remediation and tailing management, specifically tailored for the Abitibi Greenstone Belt.
Lance Black, ARLP's president, is enthusiastic about the partnership, emphasizing its alignment with the community's goals.
“With all the mining activity in the area, this collaboration positions us to explore long-term opportunities for First Nations involvement in the industry,” he said.
A joint venture with Moreau, also known as Black Diamond Moreau, will provide infrastructure support to mining clients. The new partnership will enable ARLP to offer services, including mine construction, maintenance, electrical engineering and civil engineering.
ARLP is an Indigenous-owned company that operates as a limited partnership with Apitipi Anicinapek Nation (AAN), which is located off Highway 101 between Matheson and the Quebec border. It operates three subsidiary companies — Black Diamond Drilling, Black Diamond Forestry and Anicinapek Trucking Ltd.
Black underscored the importance of contributing to the community's development, highlighting that ARLP is constructingt at least 11 new houses this year to accommodate the growing number of community members wishing to return home.
“The amount of people in our First Nation that are wanting to come back home and start working, it’s pretty amazing to see,” he said.
“I'm one of the younger leaders in the community, but I'm a good example of going to school, coming home, and just wanting to contribute to the development of our nation.”
With a total band membership of around 300 in AAN, Black said ARLP is committed to building a resource pool that supports the local economy and ensures a sustainable future for its community.
“Building partnerships and developing relationships with industry leaders have been key to our business success,” he said.
"We are striving to put our people to work and develop the skills necessary to thrive in the mining industry.”
