First Nations and Transport Company Partner to Buy B.C. Port Terminal

Two First Nations, Nisga'a and Tahltan, have partnered with Arrow Transportation Systems to buy the Port of Stewart bulk terminal in B.C. The deal is expected to close in the coming months and will create an integrated supply chain for transporting critical minerals such as copper concentrate. The partnership aims to drive economic growth and self-determination, and the province provided a $5-million grant to support the purchase. The terminal has six full-time employees and handles 260,000 tonnes of copper and gold concentrate annually.

Two First Nations, the Nisga'a and Tahltan, have formed a joint partnership with Arrow Transportation Systems to purchase the Port of Stewart bulk terminal in British Columbia. The deal, expected to close in the coming months, will create an integrated supply chain for transporting critical minerals such as copper concentrate. The partnership aims to drive economic growth and self-determination, with the province providing a $5-million grant to support the purchase.

The Port of Stewart bulk terminal, located in Stewart, B.C., has six full-time employees and currently handles approximately 260,000 tonnes of copper and gold concentrate annually. The deep-sea terminal's primary purpose is to transport critical minerals to market from sources including Newmont’s Brucejack and Red Chris mines in Nisga’a and Tahltan territories.

The new entity, Portland Canal Holdings Limited Partnership, will be launched following the acquisition. The partnership will also consolidate two regional trucking operations to create an integrated supply chain. Northwest B.C. is home to more than half of the province’s exploration and mining sector, making the strategic importance of the terminal significant.

The partnership reflects a commitment to working with Indigenous communities as equal stakeholders. It is expected to optimize revenue generation, create new business opportunities, and stimulate economic growth within the respective economies of the Nisga’a and Tahltan Nations, as well as the wider economies of British Columbia, Canada, and beyond.

The deal is a significant step in the ongoing effort to support the flow of critical minerals and demonstrates the province's commitment to economic reconciliation. The purchase and subsequent integration of the terminal and trucking operations into a unified supply chain will play a crucial role in the transportation of essential minerals, contributing to the broader goals of economic growth and self-determination.

References:
[1] https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2025/08/25/first-nations-partnership-to-buy-b-c-port-terminal-that-moves-critical-minerals/