Norway House Cree Nation (NHCN) holds 100 per cent ownership of the Minago Critical Minerals Project in Manitoba's Thompson Nickel Belt, acquired from Flying Nickel Mining Corp on 30 October 2024. The project is now operated through Minago Development GP Inc., a wholly NHCN-owned entity, and represents the first complete Indigenous ownership of a major mineral project in Canada.
Originally developed as a nickel deposit, the project's scope has expanded to include magnesium processing, with NHCN positioning Minago as a premier North American source of clean magnesium, nickel and platinum group metals. Manitoba issued an amended Environment Act licence in March 2026, and the province invested C$2 million in the project at the 2026 PDAC conference.
Minago is located within NHCN's resource management area, 107 km north of Grand Rapids and approximately 450 km north of Winnipeg, adjacent to Provincial Highway 6. The property comprises 94 mining claims covering 192.36 km² and two mining leases covering 4.25 km², along with a core storage and management facility in Grand Rapids.
The nickel and platinum group element deposit sits beneath approximately 60 metres of dolomite cover rock. NHCN's development plan treats the removal of this dolomite as an economic opportunity rather than a cost, with plans for Canada's first low-emission magnesium processing facility using the material, alongside production of construction materials, cement and silica sand.
| Category |
Information |
| Location |
Thompson Nickel Belt, northern Manitoba, 107 km north of Grand Rapids |
| Owner | Norway House Cree Nation (100 per cent), operated through Minago Development GP Inc. |
| Commodities |
Nickel, palladium, platinum, magnesium |
| Mine type | Open pit, 10,000 tonnes per day (licensed) |
| Status |
Amended environmental licence received March 2026; planning and financing ongoing |
| Acquisition value | C$8 million cash plus surrender of 17,561,862 Flying Nickel shares |
| Acquisition closed | 30 October 2024 |
NHCN's relationship with the Minago project developed over several years before the acquisition. An Impact and Benefit Agreement with Flying Nickel was signed on 14 March 2023. NHCN subsequently became Flying Nickel's largest shareholder, holding 18.1 per cent of issued shares following a private placement in October 2023.
A binding letter of intent for the full acquisition was signed on 21 July 2024. The transaction was approved by 99 per cent of Flying Nickel shareholders at a special meeting on 21 October 2024 and closed on 30 October 2024. NHCN acquired the project through 10197729 Manitoba Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, in consideration for C$8 million in cash and the surrender of all NHCN's 17,561,862 Flying Nickel shares, together with the assumption of certain royalty and option agreements.
Silver Elephant Mining Corp acquired the Minago project from Victory Nickel Inc in February 2021 for aggregate consideration of US$11,675,000, comprising a US$6,675,000 credit against secured debt and US$5 million in Silver Elephant shares. Silver Elephant subsequently spun the project out as Flying Nickel Mining Corp, which began trading on the TSXV on 4 March 2022.
In November 2025, the project was rebranded as the Minago Critical Minerals Project, reflecting its expanded scope beyond nickel to include magnesium and platinum group metals. In February 2026, fifteen NHCN members completed intensive training in drilling, blasting, rock crushing, roadwork and heavy equipment operation at the project site.
Sources: Canadian Mining Journal, November 2024; Flying Nickel, closing release; Newsfile, letter of intent; Silver Elephant, acquisition announcement; Minago project website
| Date |
Milestone |
| 2011 | Manitoba Environment Act licence issued for 10,000 tonnes per day open pit mine |
| February 2021 |
Silver Elephant acquires project from Victory Nickel for US$11,675,000 |
| 4 March 2022 | Flying Nickel begins trading on TSXV following spin-out from Silver Elephant |
| 14 March 2023 | Flying Nickel and NHCN sign Impact and Benefit Agreement |
| 11 April 2024 | Updated mineral resource estimate including inaugural PGM figures |
| 21 July 2024 | Binding letter of intent signed for NHCN acquisition |
| 30 October 2024 | Transaction closes; NHCN takes 100 per cent ownership through 10197729 Manitoba Inc. |
| 4 November 2024 | Manitoba Critical Minerals Strategy released |
| 3 November 2025 | Project rebranded as Minago Critical Minerals Project |
| February 2026 | Fifteen NHCN members complete site training programme |
| March 2026 | Manitoba invests C$2 million at PDAC conference; amended Environment Act licence issued |
Sources: Canadian Mining Journal, November 2024; Flying Nickel, April 2024 MRE; Canadian Mining Journal, PDAC 2026; CBC News, March 2026; Minago project website
| Component |
Value |
| Acquisition consideration (2024) | C$8 million cash plus 17,561,862 Flying Nickel shares |
| Silver Elephant acquisition from Victory Nickel (2021) |
US$11,675,000 aggregate (US$6,675,000 debt credit plus US$5 million in shares) |
| Manitoba provincial investment (March 2026) | C$2 million (magnesium processing facility) |
| NRCan federal grant (March 2025) | C$75,000 (access road planning and infrastructure training) |
| Development capital requirement | Not disclosed |
Sources: Flying Nickel, closing release; Silver Elephant, acquisition announcement; Province of Manitoba; Open Canada, NRCan grant
The project holds a Manitoba Environment Act licence originally issued in 2011 for a 10,000 tonne per day open pit mine. Previous owners filed a Notice of Alteration in 2013 relating to the tailings management facility. In 2014, further changes were proposed to address concerns raised by NHCN regarding protections for the Lake Winnipeg watershed, including relocating a facility outside the watershed and preventing water discharge to it via the site. Flying Nickel proposed additional amendments in 2022, including water discharge treatment.
In March 2026, Minago Development GP Inc. announced receipt of an amended Environment Act licence from the Manitoba government, allowing the project to proceed as a licensed 10,000 tonne per day operation. The amended licence followed provincial consultations with NHCN and three neighbouring First Nations: Misipawistik Cree Nation, Mosakahiken Cree Nation and Pimicikamak Cree Nation.
The Manitoba government released its Securing Our Critical Mineral Future strategy on 4 November 2024, committing to a provincial revenue-sharing model for mining developed in partnership with Indigenous nations, a single-window Critical Mineral Office, and a Mining Advisory Leadership Table with Indigenous representation.
Sources: CBC News, March 2026; CBC News, November 2024; Province of Manitoba
Norway House Cree Nation holds 100 per cent ownership of the Minago project. NHCN has 9,687 registered members as of July 2026, with 7,048 living on its own reserve, making it one of the largest First Nations in Manitoba. The community is located on the Playgreen Lake section of the Nelson River system, roughly 30 km north of Lake Winnipeg.
Chief Larson Anderson has stated that full ownership and management allows NHCN to advance the project while focusing on environmental protection, maximising employment and building economic opportunities for its members. NHCN's development approach emphasises maximising value from all extracted materials while minimising waste.
It has existing economic development capacity in the region. Playgreen Development Company, an NHCN company, provides earthworks and construction services in northern Manitoba. JNR Construction, an NHCN joint venture with Sigfusson Northern, specialises in heavy civil construction including mine development, bridge and road construction.
NHCN also has an agreement with Dumas Contracting Ltd for mining training and employment, and partnerships with drilling companies for exploratory drilling services. Fifteen NHCN members completed intensive site training in drilling, blasting, rock crushing, roadwork and heavy equipment operation in February 2026.
Sources: Crown-Indigenous Relations, First Nation Profiles; NHCN press release, 1 November 2024; CIM Magazine; Minago project website
Sources: Flying Nickel, April 2024 MRE release; Minago magnesium page
The first phase of development, focused on the magnesium processing facility, is expected to create more than 20 permanent jobs and provide training for over 50 First Nation participants, according to Minago Development GP and the Manitoba government. The project is intended to strengthen Manitoba's processing capacity using clean technology, targeting magnesium, platinum group metals and nickel for electric vehicle, advanced manufacturing and aerospace applications.
NHCN has stated its intention to extend benefits to other Nations in the project vicinity. The project has received C$2 million from the Province of Manitoba for the magnesium facility, and a C$75,000 federal grant from Natural Resources Canada for access road planning and infrastructure training. Separately, Prairies Economic Development Canada has provided C$653,395, co-funded with C$100,000 from Indigenous Services Canada, to support NHCN in completing a business plan and training programme, running from November 2023 to September 2026.
Sources: Canadian Mining Journal, PDAC 2026; Minago Development GP release; Open Canada, NRCan grant; Open Canada, PrairiesCan grant
Sources: CBC News, March 2026; Minago project website