Cheetah Resources, the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 first rare earths mining company, held a party for Erasmus Apparel Aug. 3.

The Yellowknife clothing retailer is the minerSA国际影视传媒檚 100th Northern supplier.

David Connelly, vice president of corporate affairs and strategy for Cheetah made a special address to store employees and workers from the mining company at the Erasmus store on Franklin Avenue downtown.

Cheetah purchased several pieces of swag from Erasmus as a gesture to support Northern Indigenous businesses as the rare earths mine southeast of Yellowknife attempts to grow from a demonstration project into a fully operational mine.

Connelly said that the purchase of ball-caps, t-shirts and PPE masks are exclusively for employees but should signify the companySA国际影视传媒檚 dedication to supporting Northern and Indigenous companies.

SA国际影视传媒淪o Cheetah is not trying to sell our product directly, but rather promote Erasmus Apparel as a northern supplier because Sarah (Erasmus) has worked hard over 10 years from being a start-up business to owning a little shop downtown,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He emphasized the importance of SA国际影视传媒渟ticky dollarsSA国际影视传媒� or money that is spent in the local economy to support northerners.

SA国际影视传媒淪o if you buy locally, that pays someoneSA国际影视传媒檚 salary and rent and the money stays locally and we are really trying to make that point,SA国际影视传媒� Connelly said.

Store owner Sarah Erasmus said she was happy to be recognized and to help the mining company with product.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is great to be able to work with them and I think when companies like Cheetah come into the NWT, it is important to support not only Indigenous businesses but any norther business that you can because it helps keeps them going,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淐ompanies have a lot of options - and cheaper options - down south. Everyone knows that it is expensive to live in the North and so it is important to supporti Northern.SA国际影视传媒�

Yanik DSA国际影视传媒橝igle, president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce was present for TuesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 celebration. He said in a statement that it is important to celebrate Northern and Indigenous business in their role in the NWT economy, especially as it rebounds from the Covid-19 pandemic.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat so many NWT suppliers rose to the occasion during Covid and demonstrated that the NWT business community and their dedicated employees could build CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 first rare earth mine gives confidence to investors considering investing in the multigenerational expansion of the Nechalacho Rare Earth Mine,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭ogether they demonstrate the resilience of the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous and non-Indigenous business sector.SA国际影视传媒�