Deer Horn Partner Cheona Metals Stakes Mineral Claims with Consent of Indigenous Nation in Northern BC
Deer Horn Partner Cheona Metals Stakes Mineral Claims with Consent
of Indigenous Nation in Northern British Columbia
Vancouver, BC, Canada, February 17, 2021 – Deer Horn Capital Inc. (CSE: DHC) (the “Company” or “Deer
Horn Capital”), announces that its 51% Indigenous partner Cheona Metals Inc. (“Cheona”) has staked two
mineral claims on the ancestral lands of the Dease River First Nation, a Kaska Nation community at Good
Hope Lake in northern British Columbia. The claims total 2,403 hectares.
“In conformance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the
claim staking process was performed in two steps,” said Allen Edzerza, Cheona’s founder and Indigenous
majority shareholder and an elder of the Tahltan Nation. “The first step was to obtain consent of the
Dease River First Nation to access their ancestral lands to carry out a prospecting program. After
prospecting, the second step was to again obtain consent of the Dease River First Nation to stake two
mineral claims named Dena Ah’tse and Yeda.” Dena Ah’tse in the Kaska language means “Old Peoples
Mountain” and Yeda means “Morning Star.”
“I am pleased that Cheona has carried out its prospecting and exploration in manner that is true to
UNDRIP” said Allen Edzerza. “Too many companies have come into Indigenous territories with no notice
and no communication. Cheona is doing exploration and mineral staking the way it should be done on
Kaska ancestral lands. We see exploration companies pushing the boundaries of the “Golden Triangle”
further to the east and to the south. When they come to Kaska Nation territory, they must obtain consent
exactly in the manner that Cheona has done.”
The prospecting program and claim staking was led by Dr. Lee Groat, professor of geological sciences and
mineralogist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. The University of British Columbia
is Canada’s premier mineral exploration and mining post-secondary institution and a national leader in
recruitment of Indigenous students in the sciences and engineering.
The prospecting program was the first of its kind combining Indigenous knowledge and Western science in
a 21 st century mineral prospecting and exploration program. Mr. Edzerza and Mr. Peter Stone, an elder of
the Kaska Nation, identified the lands for staking for Cheona by providing Indigenous knowledge and
perspectives. Between the two elders, Mr. Edzerza and Mr. Stone have more than 120 years of experience
traversing the region of the two mineral claims. This unique combination of Indigenous knowledge and
Western science perspectives formed the foundation of Cheona’s prospecting and staking strategy.
Cheona is reviewing information, including assays from soil and rock samples collected in 2020 from the
claims, as it prepares plans for the 2021 field season. Cheona will seek the consent of the Dease River First
Nation prior to applying for a BC Mines Act permit to carry out mechanized activity. COVID-19 is an
enormous concern for Indigenous communities. Until northern communities are fully vaccinated, Cheona
will limit its exploration work in 2021 to non-mechanized activities, or if requested by the Dease River First
Nation due to health concerns, to none at all.
“Cheona Metals is a modern example of how mineral exploration on First Nations ancestral lands should,
and must, be done in British Columbia and Canada” said Deer Horn Capital President and CEO Tyrone
Docherty. “Responsible, sustainable mineral exploration can only be described as such when consent—
and I mean free, prior and informed consent—is obtained from Indigenous peoples who have Aboriginal
or Inherent rights and title. This is exactly why Deer Horn is a member of the Initiative for Mining
Assurance, or IRMA.” (See: https://responsiblemining.net ).
“IRMA is the world’s leading mineral exploration and mining standard” said Deer Horn Capital board
chairperson, Tony Fogarassy. “The IRMA standard represents the highest protections for Indigenous
peoples, bar none. IRMA members include forward thinking purchasers and end-users of base, precious
and so-called “critical” metals. They include Microsoft, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, the Sustainable Purchasing
Leadership Council and also mining giants such as Anglo American and AccelorMittal. These global
organizations lead by example in their sectors. And I am pleased to say so do Deer Horn Capital and
Cheona Metals in the pursuit of truly responsible and truly sustainable mineral exploration.”
Cheona Metals is also currently working with RESOLVE, Inc. to restore salmon habitat impacted by mining
in British Columbia and Yukon Territory under the Salmon Gold TM label. RESOLVE’s partners include Apple
and Tiffany & Co. You can learn more about the Salmon Gold initiative here , and also in RESOLVE’s News
Release from August, 2019.
About Deer Horn Capital
Deer Horn Capital’s unique business model is based on leveraging diverse partnerships to generate
revenue and value. Working with Indigenous peoples, NGOs, governments and industry, Deer Horn Capital
explores for metals in British Columbia and helps indigenous communities grow and thrive through various
industrial, social and environmental ventures.
Deer Horn Capital proudly adheres to and supports the principles and rights set out in the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in particular the fundamental proposition of free,
prior and informed consent. Deer Horn Capital has been a vocal advocate of the BC Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act since its introduction and passage in the British Columbia legislature in
November 2019. Deer Horn Capital also supports federal Bill C-15, the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act .
On behalf of the board of directors of
Deer Horn Capital Inc.
“Tyrone Docherty”
Tyrone Docherty
President and CEO
For further information please contact:
Tyrone Docherty
604.789.5653
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Forward-looking information
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future are forward-looking statements. These forwa rd-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, percep tion of
historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve
substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements
will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company’s control. Readers should not place un due reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required
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unanticipated event.