“In one instance outlined in court documents, the company claims Sachigo Lake ‘First Nation’ demanded close to a quarter of its exploration budget – about $1.2 million – for its 2012 drill campaign, calling it an “administration fee”.

“When the company refused to give in, the ‘First Nation’ {a ‘nation’ of 814 people} served them with an “eviction” notice {from what is no longer aboriginal land}, forcing them to stop exploration work and leave the area.”

“Two employees from a Sudbury-based junior mining company were held hostage for one day by members of a northwestern Ontario ‘First Nation’ band in 2011, in an attempt to obtain payment from the company as it carried out a gold exploration activity…

“…The company contends it was forced to pay $40,000 to the ‘First Nation’ to free two workers, who were “physically detained”, along with some equipment…”  Continue reading ‘Shakedown’ →