On October 15, 2008, Mark Jarvis, President of Hard Creek Nickel Corporation (CA:HNC), Cat Lee, Chief of the Dease River Band Council, Walter Carlick, Deputy Chief of Daylu Dena Council, Donny VanSomer, Chief of the Kwadacha First Nation and Dave Porter, Chairman of the Kaska Dena Council signed a "Cornerstone Agreement", designed to be the foundation of a respectful, cooperative and progressive relationship to facilitate the development of Hard Creek's Turnagain Project in northern British Columbia. An integral aspect of this Agreement is that it is based on mutual rights recognition.
The Agreement contains important commitments by both the Kaska Dena and Hard Creek towards environmental protection, economic opportunities and benefits, education and training. Looking to the future, the Agreement provides for the negotiation of a Socio-Economic Participation Agreement to be completed concerning the development and is scheduled to be completed as part of the feasibility process for the Project.
Kevin O'Callaghan of Fasken Martineau advised Hard Creek in the negotiation of this important agreement.