At PDAC, mining told it must overcome past to gain Indigenous support – Cabin Radio
March 11, 2026
More than two decades have passed since Giant Mine ceased operations, but for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, its memory is fresh.
The mine, which operated from 1948 to 2004 on the edge of Yellowknife, has a dark and destructive history which has left lasting social, cultural and environmental impacts in the region.
Matthew Spence, the First Nation’s chief executive officer, spoke about the legacy of the mine at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference in Toronto last week, during a session titled “Building social licence: A role in community-led mining education.”
