Swooping helicopters and mine-drilling equipment have been disturbing the quiet solitude of Lac Rocher north of Waswanipi.
The Lac Rocher area, which is within Category II land, could one day be the location of a copper and nickel mine, if a Toronto mineral-exploration company has its way.
Douglas Hume, president of Nuinsco Resources, says initial results are inconclusive, but the potential is there.
“Whether we’re going to turn up anything, that is in the lap of God.”
Nuinsco Resources has already drilled 10 exploration holes looking for nickel and copper. Hume said the company “acquired” the “property” from a group of prospectors who had previously explored it for diamonds, but didn’t find anything worthwhile.
So far, the exploration has cost $200-300,000, but Nuinsco has run out of money and is looking for $50-100,000 more to continue the work. “We’re not going to abandon the search,” Hume said.
Nuinsco hasn’t consulted Waswanipi or local tallyman regarding its exploration, but did send a few skimpy details on the project when asked for more information by the Grand Council of the Crees.
“Very little information was made available,” says a Grand Council memo on the Nuinscoexploration project.
