Group want to unlock Far North resources, human and mineral.

There's a vast potential of mineral wealth beneath the rocks and muskeg in Ontario's Far North, and Thunder Bay prospector Doug Parker says most major and junior miners have barely scratched the surface.

Developing how the mining industry and First Nations groups interplay to develop those untapped commodities while training the next generation of explorationists are among the goals of the Boreal Prospectors Association (BPA).

As secretary of the fledgling 36-member group, Parker wants to get the mining industry and native communities on the same wavelength to better understand each other's needs and expectations.

"Our goal is to attract membership from the communities to allow them to better participate with the industry. It's about capacity-building and creating understanding," Parker says.

A massive land planning exercise by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), known as the Northern Boreal Initiative is underway. It covers an area called the Area of Undertaking, at roughly 51 degrees latitude. The process is designed to open up large expanses of virgin wilderness in this largely uninhabited region to commercial forestry over the next decade.

First Nations are being encouraged to take a leading role.

But the eventual outcome will definitely affect the mining industry, says Parker, a prospector for 27 years.

He expects to see at least a dozen new parks created in this area before sustainable forestry licences are issued. It may cause some significant mineral deposits to be declared off-limits.

"Once the parks are developed, if they encompass high mineral potential, then that is removed from the economic base of the communities."

His association, which is a chapter of the Ontario Prospectors Association, is focusing on the areas around Red Lake, Pickle Lake and Fort Hope, all considered to have great potential for all commodities of minerals.

The Far North is gradually opening up to more exploration with the development of De Beers Canada's Victor diamond project in Attawapiskat, ongoing work at McFaulds Lake and Kasabonika, and continuing gold production at Musselwhite Mine, 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.

Parker says most junior miners typically don't venture into remote areas unless there is a "play," simply because there aren't clear guidelines as to how to engage communities and what their expectations are.

Some companies have run afoul of native bands by conducting grassroots exploration in places considered sacred or part of Aboriginal traditional lands. It's led some communities to declare exploration moratoriums.

But others are embracing the opportunity.

Parker says some progressive First Nations such as Kasabonika, Fort Hope Eabametoong and Attawapiskat are becoming very proactive by entering into agreements with companies, staking mining claims and carrying out exploration.

Through his work with native groups and the Ontario Prospectors Association, Parker has helped develop the curriculum that's trained more than 200 prospectors in a dozen native communities in the last year and a half.

When BPA held their inaugural meeting in February 2005, more than half of the 60 people in attendance were from remote native communities.

"The communities were finding themselves in a position where they didn't know how to engage the industry and in the potential economic development. For the communities to accept development, things have to be driven from within."

A major component will be to continue training youth to participate in the industry.

Parker says there are concealed deposits for precious and semi-precious metals like diamonds and gems, base and rare metals like tantalum used for electronics and industrial minerals like phosphate development, along with sand, gravel and peat resources.

"It is very likely (more) mineral deposits in Northern Ontario will be found. We haven't looked for them."

One of the most interesting and unexplored potential mineral hot spots is the Hudson's Bay and James Bay Lowland.

"They're virtually identical rocks in ago as sediments found in Alberta and Texas, southern Ontario and the East Coast that contain petroleum potential."

Last year, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines launched the Far North Geological Mapping Initiative, a three-year, $15-million program designed to gather geoscience data on the region.

Most available information comes from old surveys that are not detailed enough for modern exploration.

The BPA, which recently held a February symposium in Sioux Lookout highlighting the region's exploration and development work, is looking to attract more industry and native members.

"We're not at the point where there's a vibrant Northern community but there's a lot of interest," says Parker. "(The) personal and economic development (of a band is) guided by the chief and council. It's important they get involved with resource development and get engaged in the industry."

www.ontarioprospectors.com

By IAN ROSS

Northern Ontario Business