Published 8:42 am Tuesday, October 13, 2026 By William Koblensky Varela Northern News Service Local Journalism Initiative The Kitikmeot Inuit Association signed an amended framework agreement with Agnico Eagle for benefits from the Hope Bay gold mine during the first day of the organization’s annual general meeting in Cambridge Bay on Oct. 6. No new royalty rate for Inuit associations was announced during the meeting, and the previous rate was one per cent of revenue. The Hope Bay mine had close to 100 Inuit employees out of 800 staff and contractors as of Sept. 30, according to Chris Adams, president of Agnico Eagle’s Nunavut division. That’s a substantial increase from June 30, when just 37 Inuit employees were working at the mine. “We expect Hope Bay to generate nearly 2,000 direct and indirect jobs as the project advances,” Adams said. Agnico Eagle plans on spending $2.4 billion to reconstruct the Hope Bay gold mine, which has been out of production since the company acquired rights to the site, approximately 160 km southwest of Cambridge Bay, in 2021. The mine is expected to generate $2.8 billion in exports annually, according to the company. A wind turbine to help power the project has been delivered the site, Adams said. Inuit-owned company Kitikmeot Tugliq Limited Partnership supplied the $25-million windmill, which was paid for by the federal government. “If phase one performs as expected, we will be building five more turbines. That equates to 15 million litres of fuel reduction,” Adams said. The mining company will also deliver housing to the Kitikmeot’s five communities. “We’ve committed to 10 homes for the Kitikmeot region this year. And for the next five years, we will be committing to 20 to 25 homes between the Kivalliq and the Kitikmeot region, up to 2030,” Adams said. In addition, school meals for 5,000 Nunavummiut children will continue to be financed by Agnico Eagle’s $5-million annual donation to the Breakfast Club of Canada.
Kitiktmeot Inuit, Agnico Eagle sign amended framework agreement
