Niobay Metals addresses Moose Cree letter

Executive Summary

• Niobay Metals Inc. issued an operational update regarding its wholly owned James Bay niobium project in response to a letter dated Feb. 18, 2026, from the Chief of the Moose Cree First Nation (MCFN).
• The company reaffirmed its commitment to conducting exploration activities in full compliance with Ontario government permits and applicable environmental laws, while respecting the rights of the MCFN and Treaty 9 communities.
• Niobay emphasized its strategy to foster a respectful partnership with the local community through local contracting, job creation, and collaborative opportunities, acknowledging the project's location within the core territory of the Moose Cree First Nation.

Key Details

• Project Location: James Bay niobium project, located 45 kilometres south of Moosonee, in the Moose Cree Traditional Territory of the James Bay Lowlands in Ontario.
• Trigger Event: A letter dated Feb. 18, 2026, issued by the Chief of the Moose Cree First Nation (MCFN) and posted on Facebook.
• Regulatory Compliance: The company stated it will carry out its exploration program in full compliance with the permit issued by the Ontario government.
• Community Engagement Strategy:
  • Use of local contractors.
  • Job creation initiatives.
  • Strategic partnerships and community contributions.
  • Development of collaborative opportunities to maximize economic benefits for the community.
• Indigenous Relations:
  • Acknowledgment that the James Bay niobium project is part of Treaty 9.
  • Recognition that the project constitutes the core territory of the Moose Cree First Nation.
  • Commitment to respecting indigenous rights and interests of Moose Cree and Treaty 9 indigenous communities.
• Company Portfolio Context:
  • Niobay holds a 100-per-cent interest in the James Bay niobium project.
  • Niobay also holds a 72.5-per-cent interest in the Crevier niobium and tantalum project in Quebec (on the Nitassinan territory of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation).

Notable Quotes

• "Niobay wishes to reiterate that it will carry out its exploration program in a manner that respects the rights of the MCFN as well as all applicable environmental laws and regulations, and in full compliance with the permit issued by the Ontario government."
• "Niobay is committed to working in alignment with the local community through the use of local contractors, job creation, strategic partnerships, community contributions and the development of collaborative opportunities."
• "Niobay's board of directors acknowledges that the James Bay niobium project is part of Treaty 9 and constitutes the core territory of the Moose Cree First Nation. The company respects the indigenous rights and interests of Moose Cree and the Treaty 9 indigenous communities."