GREATER SUDBURY, ON — January 15, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Frontier Lithium Inc. has entered into process agreements with Deer Lake First Nation and Sandy Lake First Nation, demonstrating a commitment to regulatory requirements and Anishinninew laws.
The agreements aim to provide structure, transparency, and predictability for all parties involved as technical studies and permitting activities progress under the One Project, One Process (1P1P) framework. They reflect a shared commitment to early engagement, information sharing, and meaningful participation throughout First Nations and Crown approval processes.
According to the company, this approach aligns with Anishinninew laws and protocols and Ontario’s objective to involve Indigenous communities from the start of project reviews while streamlining approvals without weakening environmental protections.
Frontier Lithium President and CEO Trevor Walker stated that these process agreements represent a best practice for how exploration and mining companies approach Indigenous engagement. He added that the agreements are essential to ensuring that any consideration of the Project proceeds in a coordinated manner, integrating Indigenous perspectives with provincial regulatory processes.
Deer Lake First Nation Chief Lenard Mamakeesick emphasized the importance of transparency, respect, and meaningful participation from the community in any development in their territory. He noted that the process agreement is an important step in setting out how they will be engaged as Frontier’s project moves through Ontario’s One Project, One Process framework, and reflect how their concerns about the land, water, and future generations will be heard and considered.
Sandy Lake First Nation has a responsibility to protect their lands, waters, and future generations. These process agreements create clarity around how information will be shared and how their laws and protocols will be respected as the Project is considered, according to the press release.
Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce said that Ontario is proving that you can move major critical mineral projects forward through real partnership. “Ontario’s One Project, One Process designation for Frontier Lithium’s PAK project is driving this job creating project forward with speed and in meaningful partnership with Deer Lake First Nation and Sandy Lake First Nation so that we build the mines Ontario needs to power the clean economy of the future.”
The agreements build on a decade of relationship-building, including exploration agreements in place since 2016. Frontier anticipates a 24-month 1P1P timeline for completing Provincial permitting. Frontier (92.5%) and Mitsubishi Corporation (7.5%) operate the PAK Lithium Project as a joint venture.
The company’s PAK Lithium Project maintains the largest land position and resource in a premium lithium mineral district located in Ontario’s Great Lakes region. A 2025 Mine and Mill Feasibility Study outlines a 31-year Project life with an after-tax net present value of $932 million at an 8% discount rate and an after-tax internal rate of return of 17.9%.
Trevor Walker is President & CEO of Frontier Lithium.
Source: Frontier Lithium Inc.
