The deal, signed April 30, helps to build the pair's long-term relationship and will be critical to its effort to deliver economic opportunities for the TH. Specifically, it outlines environmental protection commitments by the miner, as well as employment, training and skills development initiatives.

Additionally, according to TH representatives, the agreement includes measurable benefits for its citizens, including business development opportunities, sustainable solutions, regulatory permitting consultation and future financial contributions.  

The company said the agreement is one of many partnerships between it and First Nation community across the country, and is the first one for it in the Yukon. As president and CEO David Garofalo noted, the collaboration will lay a solid foundation for its ongoing ties.

"Through strong collaboration, mutual commitments and respect for each other, together, we can create shared value with mutual benefits through all stages of Coffee's mine life," he said.

Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in chief Roberta Joseph added the agreement is the culmination of several years of discussions, workshops and meetings in the northwest Canada community.

"Our collaborative agreement provides for economic opportunities for TH, ensures we will be able to take the necessary steps with Goldcorp to protect the environment and establishes a solid relationship which addresses the values of our Treaty Rights and community recommendations, all of which taken together provides TH and Goldcorp with the certainty we each need for the project to move forward," Joseph said. "We're very pleased and we look forward to working with Goldcorp throughout the life of the project." 

The open-pit Coffee project, which Goldcorp owns entirely, is expected to begin production in 2021.