Solaris Resources (TSX: SLS) (OTCQB:SLSSF), on March 1, 2024, entered into a trilateral cooperation agreement with the Interprovincial Federation of Shuar Centers (FICSH) and the Alliance for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (AEI) of Ecuador. The signing ceremony took place during the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention. What does the agreement mean for the company and the communities in which its Warintza Project operates?
The agreement aims to foster economic and social development in Shuar communities represented by FICSH, including the Warints and Yawi communities, which host Solaris’ Warintza Project on their lands. The collaboration will focus on programs in health, education, skills training, entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable mineral resource development.
FICSH, established by the Ministry of Social Welfare of Ecuador in 1964, is the largest and highest authority among Shuar indigenous organizations. It represents 50 associations, comprising 500 Shuar communities and approximately 143,000 Shuar indigenous people.
AEI is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and innovation as the foundation for Ecuador’s productive development. Solaris has been a member of AEI’s network of public, private, and academic actors since 2021.
Mr. Froilan Juank, President of Yawi Center and member of the Board of Directors of the Strategic Alliance, commented in a press release: “The Shuar communities of Warints and Yawi support this agreement which follows from our request for FICSH to represent us and our interests and extend benefits to other member communities. We reject the false statements made by foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Shuar Arutam People’s Associations (PSHA) which ignore our voice and speak against our interests. We are the legitimate registered owners of the Ancestral Lands on which the Warintza Project resides and we have the right and have chosen, through our General Assembly, to participate in the project through our Strategic Alliance and Impact and Benefits Agreement.”
Mr. David Tankamash, President of FICSH, commented in a press release: “Our work aims to improve the quality of life and access to opportunities for our member Shuar Centers. We support the Warints and Yawi communities and reject the efforts of foreign NGOs who act against the will and interest of our members. This agreement, which has been approved by the will of the FICSH General Assembly, is important for inclusive and sustainable mineral resource development. The Solaris model proves the Shuar nation can partner in development opportunities on our lands. We deserve the opportunities indigenous nations have in other parts of the world and foreign NGOs must respect our choices.”
The key programs under the cooperation agreement include:
Health: Training and support for providing medical services in remote communities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health.
Education: Training and support for developing and delivering intercultural education in remote communities, in partnership with the Ministry of Education.
Production: Training and technical assistance related to agricultural and business development, project management, and accounting.
Artisanal mining: Environmental, safety, and technical training and support for the formalization of artisanal mining in FICSH territories.
The agreement also demonstrates Solaris Resources Inc.’s commitment to engaging with local communities and promoting sustainable development in the regions where it operates.
