Keeping NechalachoSA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous stakeholders involved in the mining project is SA国际影视传媒渢he single most important partSA国际影视传媒� of Lisa Riley's new job as the CEO of Vital Metals.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think that natural resource projects in Canada SA国际影视传媒� at the very least SA国际影视传媒� should not go forward without substantial Indigenous engagement and, ideally, indigenous investment,SA国际影视传媒� Riley said. 

Australian-owned Vital Metals commenced operations at Nechalacho in 2021. The site, which sits about 100 kilometres southeast of Yellowknife, produces rare earth elements (REE), critical minerals used in electronics, green energy, automotive, aerospace, military defence and more.

Riley took the reins as CEO in July, replacing outgoing executive director Geordie Mark, who had been in his role for less than a year.

VitalSA国际影视传媒檚 work at Nechalacho had been bumpy up to that point. Perhaps the greatest drama involved the companySA国际影视传媒檚 plans to sell a 9.9-percent ownership stake SA国际影视传媒�  and all the resource it had extracted from the mine to date SA国际影视传媒� to a subsidiary of Chinese rare earths company Shenghe Resources last year. Not only would that deal have strengthened ChinaSA国际影视传媒檚 dominance in the rare earths industry, but little consultation with NechalachoSA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous stakeholders took place on the proposal.

It was that turbulent saga SA国际影视传媒� among other things SA国际影视传媒� that compelled Riley to pursue her current position as CEO.

SA国际影视传媒淚 joined the board of Vital in December of 2022,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 was sitting there for a while, watching how things played out SA国际影视传媒� letSA国际影视传媒檚 put it that way.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen we discussed who would get into the [CEO] seat, that was something I had thought about and was keen to doSA国际影视传媒� I could bring some different things to the table.SA国际影视传媒�

In the end, the federal government nixed VitalSA国际影视传媒檚 controversial Shenghe deal. In place of that deal, Natural Resources Canada arranged for Vital to sell its existing stockpile of 1,900 tonnes of bastnaesite ore to the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) for $3 million SA国际影视传媒� more than the company would have received from Shenghe. That deal was a one-off, according to an SRC spokesperson, but also included funding "for SRC to create a new domestic capacity for bastnaesite processing."

Vital also seems to be doing a better job keeping NechalachoSA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous stakeholders apprised of whatSA国际影视传媒檚 happening SA国际影视传媒� in keeping with RileySA国际影视传媒檚 comments about her priorities as CEO. 

The project has five Indigenous stakeholders: the Tlicho Government, Deninu Kue First Nation, Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 First Nation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN), and North Slave Metis Alliance (NSMA). 

Back in January, NSMA President Marc Whitford told SA国际影视传媒 that Vital had gone silent on his organization, but it seems things have indeed changed.

"Right now, we're pleased with the communication that we've received in recent weeks," said Noah Johnson, the manager of NSMASA国际影视传媒檚 environment department. "There was a bit of a pause for a while. I think they needed some time to kind of figure out what was going on on their end, but we've actually been engaging with staff from the project this fall and we're committed to creating a more regular relationship with more regular dialogue. I think it's going in the right direction.

"From my perspective, from what I've seen, I believe that they are taking a renewed and fresh approach to taking people's rights seriously," he added. 

Vital is preparing to update the public on its dealings at Nechalacho at the 52nd Yellowknife Geoscience Forum, slated for Nov. 26-28. Before speaking to SA国际影视传媒, Riley warned that she was limited in what she could say about the companySA国际影视传媒檚 plans before that event, but confirmed that the focus is still on NechalachoSA国际影视传媒檚 Tardiff deposit. 

At the moment, Vital is in the process of doing a SA国际影视传媒渟coping studySA国际影视传媒� of the deposit, according to the CEO SA国际影视传媒� or SA国际影视传媒渁 preliminary economic assessment in Canadian terms.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭ardiff is a massive project with a massive resource,SA国际影视传媒� she said. 

The focus on Tardiff follows what she called a SA国际影视传媒渇alse startSA国际影视传媒� at the smaller North T deposit. 

SA国际影视传媒淣orth T SA国际影视传媒� letSA国际影视传媒檚 call it a starter pit,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎t North T, the resource is higher grade than Tardiff. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 much, much smaller, but it is higher grade, so the concept of mining there first makes sense. The issue is that parameters need to be put around that. In order for that [pit] to be workable, we need to do some more drilling. We need to have a much clearer idea of how big the resource is, whether it's actually bigger than we think it is SA国际影视传媒� which we think it might be SA国际影视传媒� but we don't want to get to a position where we're making promises that we're not delivering onSA国际影视传媒� So we are focused on the Tardiff pit and what we can do with Tardiff, because that's something we know."

As Vital forges ahead, Riley is adamant that the company still views Nechalacho as a worthwhile investment.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is the only project that we have,SA国际影视传媒� she said, alluding to the fact that Vital was previously involved in mining projects in other parts of the world, such as West Africa. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 very, very excited about it. 

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e feeling optimistic about where this is going to go.SA国际影视传媒�

While YKDFN could not be reached for comment on VitalSA国际影视传媒檚 work at Nechalacho, RileySA国际影视传媒檚 upbeat view about the project is shared by NSMA SA国际影视传媒� albeit with a degree of caution.

"It's early to say, but I am optimistic," Johnson said. "At least more optimistic than we were in the past."