Dunnedin Ventures Provides Community Consultation and Permitting Update

Dunnedin Ventures Inc. (TSXV:DVI) announced that company representatives will be meeting April 11-15, 2016 with the Nunavut communities of Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet to discuss proposed exploration  plans, seek their advice and collaborate on a Wildlife and Environment Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (WEMMP).  Dunnedin invites all local community members interested in discussing the Company’s plans to meet with Chris Taylor, Dunnedin’s CEO.  Locations and times of meetings have been published to community bulletin boards and provided to local groups.
As quoted in the press release:

The Company also reports that while its current exploration permit remains in effect until mid-2017, it also submitted a multi-year exploration permit application in December 2015, well in advance of the current permit’s expiry.  The proposed work pertains to speculative future activities that are contingent upon current results, not to its current exploration program.  Upon review, the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) recommended that the Company should meet with members of the local communities to explain the Company’s plans and to seek advice including traditional knowledge that may be incorporated into the Company’s proposed exploration activities. The Company is currently updating its application with input from the communities as recommended by the NIRB.  Over the coming months, the updated application will be reviewed by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to determine if it is acceptable as submitted, requires further changes, or should be resubmitted.  
The Company notes that some community members have raised concerns with the NIRB about a mineral exploration camp abandoned by now defunct Shear Minerals Ltd.  The camp is not located on Dunnedin’s mineral claims and is several kilometres away from the nearest diamond occurrences and proposed exploration areas.  Dunnedin has no legacy or current involvement with the site, but is sympathetic with these concerns and has included up-to-date best practices in its exploration permit application that it is now updating with local guidance to minimize any potential impacts of its proposed work.

Dunnedin Ventures CEO, Chris Taylor, stated:

We submitted a multi-year exploration permit application almost two years before required, in order to ensure Dunnedin has ample time to work within regulatory guidelines and incorporate any guidance from local groups. Changes have recently been made to Nunavut’s mineral exploration regulations, and we decided to be proactive as it will take time for companies, government and local interests to adapt.  I would like to apologize on behalf of the Company for not having yet consulted with all community members at the time of our application’s submission.  We look forward to building meaningful relationships with both communities, and to integrating local knowledge into our application to ensure an effective and responsible program.  I invite anyone who is interested to meet with me in Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet during the week of April 11 to 15.