First Nations Partnerships
From Impact and Benefit Agreements to co-ownership stakes, First Nations communities are active partners in BC mining. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
The relationship between BC’s mining industry and First Nations communities is built on signed agreements, shared revenue and long-term employment. That’s not a recent development. It’s how mining has operated here for decades.
- Industry Support
- Employment Support
- Supply Chain Support
Negotiated Agreements
Industry Support
An Impact and Benefit Agreement (IBA) is a contract between a mine and a First Nations community covering jobs, revenue, business opportunities and environmental oversight. BC has more than 64 active IBAs, giving First Nations a formal role in how projects proceed and a direct share of what they produce. The First Nations Equity Financing Framework has since expanded this further, opening the door to co-ownership stakes in critical mineral projects.
Careers and Wages
Employment Support
Mining is one of BC’s highest-paying industries, with an average annual wage around $140,000. First Nations workers fill roles across operations, trades, environmental monitoring and engineering. Many mines run dedicated recruitment and training programs with nearby communities, supporting long-term careers in regions where those opportunities have historically been limited.
Local Procurement
Supply Chain Support
First Nations-affiliated businesses provided close to $975 million in goods and services to BC mines and smelters in 2021 and 2022. On top of that, $326 million in mineral tax payments have been distributed to 49 First Nations. That spend and revenue reaches communities across the province, not just those closest to mine sites.
Mining in BC, by the numbers.
The numbers behind BC’s operating mines, their workforce, and their impact across the province.
64+ IBAs
Between BC mines and First Nations communities
$975M
In goods and services from First Nations-affiliated businesses (2021–22)
$326M
In mineral tax payments shared with 49 First Nations
Largest
Private-sector employer of First Nations people in BC and Canada
Shared Stewardship
Environmental Oversight and First Nations
Many First Nations communities play an active role in environmental monitoring at and around mine sites. Independent audits, water quality testing and reclamation oversight frequently involve community participation – and the IBAs that govern operations often include specific environmental provisions negotiated by First Nations directly.
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