Seabee Gold Operation is located northeast of La Ronge. (SSR Mining)

By Derek Cornet

COVID-19

Gold mine makes donations to northern communities amid pandemic

Apr 20, 2020 | 5:00 PM

SSR Mining Inc., which owns the Seabee Gold Operation in northern Saskatchewan, has made donations to the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) and other communities to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Community consultation is something SSR Mining is very like-minded about and they take a lot of pride to make sure we have presence in our community; they know what our operations are about and we want to have a positive input in the communities we are working in,” said Community Relations Liaison Amanda Smith.

For instance, extra supplies for the Seabee Mine Site were sent to the LLRIB office, and additional supplies and non-perishable food was ordered from their grocery supplier and delivered to the band to be used in food hampers. The Lac La Ronge Food Band also received a donation of all the remaining food left at its exploration camp that was closed for the season due to COVID-19.

Financial support was given to the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation and Grandmother’s Bay to purchase items for food hampers or other supplies. A food hamper was also prepared for each household in Brabant Lake and they were delivered over the ice road. More assistance from SSR Mining could occur in the coming weeks.

“I’ve been working with the LLRIB crisis coordinator and they identified that as a way they could immediately help their members by keeping them at home and out of grocery stores,” Smith said. “It’s a way of keeping people at home and alleviating the challenge of grocery bills.”

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Last month, the mining company announced its decision to suspend operations at the gold mine due to the pandemic. There were more than 360 workers employed at the mine site at the time of the announcement.

LLRIB Chief Tammy Cook-Searson noted the band is grateful for the company reaching out to them during this time. She said SSR Mining donated two pallets of cleaning supplies, as well as groceries such as flour, sugar, coffee, tea, root vegetables, canned goods and toilet paper.

“They have a mine located in our traditional territory, so we really appreciate the gesture of them reaching out us during this COVID-19 pandemic we are in right now,” Cook-Searson said.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno