Mining Company Gives $8 Million to Local Native American Tribe

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Posted: 7:44 PM May 31, 2006 Mining Company Gives $8 Million to Local Native American Tribe The Mole Lake Chippewa band and executives from a mining company had a joint celebration Wednesday (5/31/06). Reporter: Associated Press

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MOLE LAKE, Wis. (AP) - The Mole Lake Chippewa band and executives from a mining company had a joint celebration Wednesday.

The tribe made its final $8 million mortgage payment on the Crandon mine and BHP Billiton donated the money back to the tribe through a trust fund.

BHP spokeswoman Tracey Whitehead says the gift means some good came from the defunct mining project.

Whitehead says Wednesday’s actions give her company a successful and permanent exit from the project while also achieving a company goal of contributing lasting benefits to local communities from mining.

Three years ago the Mole Lake and Forest County Potawatomi agreed to pay 16 and a-half million dollars to buy the proposed zinc and copper mine near Crandon. The tribes opposed the mine, fearing it would pollute the Wolf River and other nearby waterways.

BHP Billiton had helped finance Mole Lake's portion of the purchase.

Tribal Chairwoman Sandra Rachal says the mining company's gift, to be placed in a trust fund managed by the Madison Community Foundation, will help meet needs of the tribe for generations to come.