(Photo credit: Tina Pelletier)
Foran Mining Corporation’s McIlvenna Bay Project now has a dedicated space for Indigenous employees.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place yesterday for a new Indigenous culture and wellness room, with leaders from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in attendance.
“This room is a testament to our collaboration with Foran,” said Chief Peter Beatty of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in a release. “It provides a safe sanctuary for our First Nation employees to practice our traditions, while also serving as an educational resource for others to learn about our culture that will foster respect.” The creation of the Indigenous Culture and Wellness Room holds special significance for the First Nation employees at the McIlvenna Bay Project.
The room serves as a dedicated space for smudging ceremonies and cultural practices. It features a treaty map, a star blanket, a medicine wheel floor rug, the Seven Teachings in Cree syllabics and English, as well as murals representing the four seasons, painted by George Custer of Pelican Narrows.
“The Indigenous Culture and Wellness Room exemplifies our commitment to honouring and integrating Indigenous cultural practices into our operations,” Craig Young, Mine General Manager at Foran, stated in a release. “We believe this initiative will deepen understanding and appreciation of Indigenous traditions among all our employees and visitors.”
The McIlvenna Bay Project is located entirely within the traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.