Gold major Newmont (NYSE:NEM) has gifted C$8 million ($9 million) to the Tahltan Nation as it celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Red Chris Mine in Canada.
Tahltan Central Government President Beverly Slater says the donation will allow the Tahltan Nation to begin work on a series of projects that will enrich their communities.
“It is another step toward ensuring every Tahltan child, youth, adult, and Elder directly benefits from resource development in our territory,” Slater says.
“Also, steps were taken to consult with our members to determine our community needs.”
The investment will fund a range of projects, including the development of community-use spaces, recreation facilities, and a greenhouse space. Some of the funds will also go towards supporting planning and pre-development efforts to improve housing in each community.
The Red Chris Mine, which was acquired by Newmont in 2023, is an open pit copper and gold mine employing about 220 Tahltans and generating around $100 million worth of business annually with the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation.
Newmont has a 70% stake in the mine, which started production in 2015, with the remaining 30% held by Imperial Metals Corporation (TSX:III).
Red Chris hosts 3.7 million ounces of gold reserves and 1 million tonnes of copper reserves as of the end of 2024.
In the first quarter of 2025, Red Chris produced 60,000 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of US$2,050 ($3,163) an ounce.
The operation is managed in close partnership with Tahltan Nation through an impact benefit and co-management agreement.
The mine pays annual royalties to the Tahltan Heritage Trust and contributes mineral tax revenue to the Province of British Columbia which is shared directly with the Tahltan Nation.
Abdul Rahman Amoadu, Managing Director – Africa and Canada for Newmont, says the success of the partnership at the Red Chris Mine is a testament to the Tahltan Nation’s leadership and values around balancing economic development with environmental protection.
Tahltan Territory is 95,933km², or the equivalent of 11% of British Columbia.
The Tahltan Central Government says if the Tahltan Nation were its own country, it would be bigger than Portugal and slightly smaller than South Korea.
The north/western border runs parallel to the Alaskan/Canadian border, and includes part of the Yukon Territory.
The south/eastern border includes the upper Nass tributaries and western half of the Stikine plateau, including the sacred headwaters of the Stikine, Nass and Skeena rivers.
Tahltans currently make up over half of the residents in Tahltan territory, dispersed between three main communities: Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake and Iskut.
The Red Chris Mine is located in northwest British Columbia, about 18km southeast of the Iskut village and 80km south of Dease Lake.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Newmont
