I can assure everyone that irish1111 and strategic miner are two individual people. I consider irish1111 a valued and very intelligent friend.

I accept Sum4All's apology. I think we have all occasionally said things that we later regreat. Let's move on.

Like I said in a previous post, collectively, the individuals contributing to this site have a great amount of wisdom and insight.

I value this collective input - the homophobic remarks of last week being the exception!

This individual needs to apologized to the entire group - especially the women. I am from the "old school." I would never speak to or comment in front of a women using that type of language. Shame on that individual!

Now for the matter at hand. Miners Unite is causing an enormous amount of concern in the Aboriginal community.

See Treaty #3 news release: http://www.republicofmining.com/2012/04/06/grand-council-treaty-3-news-release-controversial-%e2%80%9cminers-united%e2%80%9d-group-will-not-be-tolerated-in-treaty-3-territory-%e2%80%93-treaty-3-communities-prommised-to-share-in-mineral-we/

Kenora Daily Miner and News article: http://www.republicofmining.com/2012/04/06/northwestern-ontario-treaty-3-bans-60-mining-companies-from-territory-by-jon-thompson-kenora-daily-miner-and-news-april-5-2012/

This stems from a previous Globe and Mail article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/the-law-page/junior-mining-firms-in-revolt-over-native-deals/article2383041/

I did attend both the Toronto and Thunder Bay Miners Unite meetings. Let me be crystal clear, I am not part of Miners Unite. It is not really a unified group.

There are some serious concerns about consultation "fees" paid by small junior exploration companies to First Nations communities. However, I sincerely believe these issues can be resolved with good will from both sides.

The title of that Globe and Mail piece, "Junior Miners Revolt Over Native Deals" unfortunately hyped up the conflict - if it bleeds, it leads - and everything now seems to be spinning out of control. There were no "pitchforks" or calls to "storm the Bastille"!

While the Solid Gold and God's Lake Resources junior/First Nations conflict garnered much negative media and made some in the junior exploration sector look like "rednecks," we need to remember that there are slightly over 200 agreements of various kinds across the country between major miners and junior explorationists and First Nations, about 90 of those agreements are in northern Ontario.

Noront Resources is an excellent example of large juniors working closely and successfully with First Nations communities.

http://www.republicofmining.com/2012/04/04/noront-resources-invests-in-webequie-youth-by-norm-tollinsky-sudbury-mining-solutions-journal-march-2012/

And this recent posting by Ian Ross of Northern Ontario Business demonstrates the many opportunities in the industry for First Nations youth: http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Industry-News/aboriginal-businesses/Aboriginal-mining-careers-promoted-in-training-portal.aspx

May everyone have a great and restful Easter weekend.

cheers

Strategic Miner