Manitoba invested $2 million in Minago Development GP, marking a historic milestone as Canada's first fully Indigenous-owned critical minerals operation. The Norway House Cree Nation-owned company will develop the country's first low-emission magnesium processing facility.
The announcement was made at the 2026 PDAC conference in Toronto, where Mines Minister Jamie Moses called it "a first of its kind project in Canadian history" that sets "the precipice of a new way of doing business here in Canada."
The facility will target magnesium, platinum group metals, and nickel - materials essential for electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing, and aerospace applications. Minister Moses highlighted the strategic importance, noting "China has a corner on that market" and this project offers Canada an opportunity to become "national and international leaders."
The development is expected to create more than 20 permanent jobs and provide training for over 50 First Nation participants while strengthening Manitoba's processing capacity using clean technology.
Norway House Cree Nation, one of Manitoba's largest First Nations with over 8,000 members, acquired Minago in November 2024 as part of a broader economic development strategy for northern Manitoba. The project aligns with the First Nations principle of "using the entire animal" - maximizing value from all extracted materials while minimizing waste.
The investment demonstrates Manitoba's commitment to Indigenous-led development and positions the province as a key player in Canada's critical minerals strategy, targeting materials the global market increasingly demands for low-emissions technology applications.
Visit www.minago.ca and sit www.Nhcn.ca for more information.
March 5, 2026
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