Building Prosperity Together: Osoyoos Indian Band and Skemxist Solutions Visit Record Ridge
Earlier this month, members of the Osoyoos Indian Band including Elders, Community Members and members of Council, joined the Skemxist Solutions team for a meaningful site visit to the Record Ridge Magnesium Project near Rossland, British Columbia.
The visit provided an opportunity to walk the land together, share project updates, and discuss how this development will create opportunities for economic growth while protecting the environment and honoring cultural values.
A Shared Vision for Responsible Development
Hosted by West High Yield Resources (WHY), the Record Ridge Project represents a model of small-scale, low-impact mining that aligns with Osoyoos Indian Band and Skemxist Solutions’ shared commitment to environmental responsibility and community well-being.
The visit was joined by Barry Baim, Senior Leadership with West High Yield Resources, who spoke about the company’s commitment to transparency, community partnerships, and responsible mining practices. His participation reinforced WHY’s goal to ensure the Record Ridge Project delivers lasting benefits for local and Indigenous communities while protecting the environment.
The project will produce magnesium, silica, nickel and iron without chemical processing, tailings ponds or on-site refining. This design ensures the surrounding environment remains protected throughout the life of the project, which is expected to extend for more than 170 years.
Consultations have been ongoing since 2024 and include archaeological, environmental and cultural assessments completed with Osoyoos Indian Band participation. This collaborative approach ensures that Indigenous knowledge and stewardship guide how the project moves forward.
An Indigenous Partnership and Opportunity
Skemxist Solutions and the Osoyoos Indian Band are proud to continue working closely with West High Yield Resources to identify opportunities for Indigenous participation throughout the project’s development.
The partnership reflects a shared vision of collaboration, respect for the land, and creating meaningful pathways for local economic and skills development. These discussions are ongoing and guided by the principles of transparency, inclusion and long-term sustainability.
Through its collaboration with The Sutherland Group, Skemxist Solutions provides integrated industrial services such as construction, transportation and logistics. The work at Record Ridge supports the company’s broader mission to create training and employment pathways that benefit Indigenous communities across the region.
A Commitment to Safety and Environmental Care
Safety and environmental protection were central themes of the site visit. West High Yield Resources and Skemxist Solutions reaffirmed their shared commitment to continuous monitoring of air, water and soil quality.
The project design eliminates the need for on-site chemical processing or refining, and operations will meet or exceed all provincial and federal standards for sustainable mining, water management, reclamation and biodiversity protection.
Future project phases will continue to involve open consultation with Indigenous and local communities to maintain transparency and ensure accountability.
A Foundation for the Future
The Record Ridge Project supports Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy, providing materials like magnesium that are essential to clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable power storage.
Long term, West High Yield Resources aims to establish Canada’s first domestic magnesium and critical minerals refining facility. This vision creates new opportunities for Indigenous-led business participation and regional growth.
For the Osoyoos Indian Band and Skemxist Solutions, Record Ridge represents more than just an industrial project. It is part of a larger legacy of leadership in sustainable development, partnership, and self-reliance.
About Skemxist Solutions
Skemxist Solutions is a partnership between the Osoyoos Indian Band and The Sutherland Group that provides integrated heavy industry services across British Columbia. With a strong focus on safety, training and community development, Skemxist Solutions is building lasting economic opportunities that support both people and the land.