Novagold Resources Inc.

Thank you for standing by. This is the conference operator. Welcome to the NOVA Gold second quarter financial results conference call and webcast. As a reminder, all participants are in listen-only mode and the conference is being recorded. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To join the question queue, you may press star then one on your telephone keypad. Should you need assistance during the conference call, you may signal an operator by pressing star and zero. I would now like to turn the conference over to Melanie Hennessy, Vice President, Corporate Communication. Please go ahead.

Thank you, Claudia. Good morning, everyone. We are pleased that you have joined us for Novogold's 2021 second quarter financial results and also for an update on the Donald Gold Project. On today's call, we have Dr. Thomas Caplan, Novogold's chairman, and David Odwell, Novogold's vice president and CFO. At the end of the webcast, we will take questions both by phone and by text. Additionally, we will respond to questions received by email. I would like to remind our webcast and call participants that, as stated on slide three, any statements made today may contain forward-looking information, such as projections and goals, which are likely to involve risk, detailed in our various EDGAR and CDAR filings and forward-looking disclaimers included in this presentation. I now have the pleasure of turning the presentation over to our chairman, Dr. Thomas Kaplan. Tom?

Thank you, Melanie. And good morning, everyone. Greg sends his regrets as he's had a family emergency to attend to and will be back in the office in several days. The project is in the West, the great state of a known on slide for the joint venture partnership with Barry. Stress that mining is an important part of the Alaskan economy and becoming even more important to state revenues and employment. As shown on the map, there are six producing mines and numerous developments in the state. Mining industry employees can be found in most communities, large or small. In terms of scale, quality, and exploration potential, Donlon Gold's attributes far exceed any other gold development project globally. When combined with our long-standing native corporation partnerships, the exponential leverage in gold price, a strong cash position with key federal and state permits in hand, an experienced management team and board, as well as which has learned supportive shareholders, Nova Gold is an enviable amongst all gold development projects. Nova Gold is committed to responsible mining, stewardship of the environment, and adding value to the communities in which we operate. We believe that MINDS can be developed in collaboration with people who've had the local knowledge to help minimize environmental impacts while providing maximum benefits to all stakeholders. Novigold has approached the disclosure of our environment, social, and governance ESG performance pragmatically as a development stage company, disclosing benchmarks that we believe are the most relevant measurements of performance. of our inaugural sustainability summary report earlier this year was the latest step in our progression. A selection of the measurements of performance can be found on slide five. Highest possible standards through our workforce performance, actions, and conduct. At Donlin Gold, these principles are passed on to our workforce as they receive training and experience to develop skills that will help them today as well as in the future. The 2021 drill program at Donlin Gold has direct hires of 70% Alaska Native employees from 20 different villages in the YK region, as presented by the blue dots on the slide six map. partnership is integral to our corporate culture. Novigold supports the Donlin Gold team in their outreach and site work to make a positive difference in the Alaskan communities in the YK region. Slide seven shows activities like the Rainbow Smelt Larvae Studies that we have buckets to improve hygiene materials from providing protection from the COVID-19 pandemic. Careful collaboration with our native partners, Chalista and TKC, as well as other tribal groups in the YK region since 2020, has been key to successfully operating its sites with zero COVID-19 cases. Zero. While the COVID-19 pandemic is a lower risk than a year ago, Novigold and Donlangold have continued adhering to policies to reduce risk and ensure the safety and well-being of all employees and contractors. Donlangold's stringent measures, as outlined on slide eight, allowed Donlangold to safely operate for the 2020 drill program, which we are continuing for the 2021 drill season. Underlining Novigold's and Barrick's commitment to the project, partners did approximately $2 million in two years in upgrading the project site, including a larger kitchen facility, upgrades to electrical supply, a new warehouse, and upgrades to the core logging and cutting facilities and equipment. Some of this investment can be seen in the photos on slide nine. The Donland Gold Project camp was reopened in March and four drill rigs were deployed for the 2021 drill program. Slide 10 shows drilling as well as core cutting and inspection that occurred earlier this month. You can also see on the bottom left an aerial photo of the project site. As of June 26th, 28 polls in 64 planned. This represents over 40% of the 20,100 meters planned in this campaign. Initial assay results are expected later this summer. As you can see in the map, slide 11 is targeted in the ACMA and Lewis pit areas and is being performed to verify geologic modeling concepts and further test ore body continuity and structural control and test for extensions of high-grade zones in both intrusive and sedimentary rocks. Once we have completed the 2021 drill program and geologic model update, incorporating all the latest drill data, optimization work, and trade-off studies since 2011, this will provide the necessary information to support a decision to move to the upcoming feasibility study, subject to a formal decision by the Donlin Board, LLC. With all federal and most key states, Donland Gold continued to successfully advance remaining state permits, including water rights and the natural gas pipeline right of way, with the support of Alaska Native partners, Chalista and TKC. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources respected the issue of water rights applications for Donland Gold related to local surface water and groundwater sources this year. Additionally, ADNR's division of oil and gas is also expected to reissue the state right-of-way agreement and lease authorization this year. On May 27th, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner upheld the state of Alaska's Section 401 certification under the Clean Water Act that had been granted to Donland Gold in 2018 after a thorough, diligent, and transparent review by state and federal agencies of the proposed project development plan and its relationship with the surrounding environment. This is a permit that Donland Gold has held since August 2018. On June 28th, EarthJob San Francisco's law firm, on behalf of ONC, the Tribal Council for Bethel, a village in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region, held an appeal to the Superior Court. Nova Gold strongly believes that the commission to uphold the 401 certification validates the project stakeholders' commitment to advance the Nonland Gold Project in a safe and environmentally responsible manner for the benefit of all Alaskans. All great ore bodies go through appeals and litigation. There's never been one without one. Over a six year period, Donalyn Gold conducted an extensive, transparent and independently reviewed scientific evaluation that included significant community participation and scrutiny and consistently demonstrated that the project fully complies with the Clean Water Act, the Alaska Water Quality Standards and analysis applicable state and federal laws. The process culminated with the issuance of the 401 certification in 2018. The 401 certification clearly demonstrates that the product of environment imposed by the state of Alaska and the appropriate agencies of the federal government of the United States. We remain entirely enthusiastic about the future of Donlin Gold, a tier one gold developer, and look forward to continuing our constructive engagement with all the appropriate federal and state agencies in Alaska It welcomes responsible resource development that enriches the lives of all its residents. To meet reporting requirements, Novigold retained Wood Canada Limited in 2020 to perform a detailed review of costs and other assumptions used in the previously filed 2011 technical report. The 2021 technical report utilizes the existing mineral resources model and the same technical information from the previous Donland Gold 2011 technical report with 2020 cost and adjusted gold price. This report results in no material change to the mineral resources or mineral reserves. As stated earlier in the presentation, the 2021 Donland Gold technical report is separate from the upcoming feasibility study that we expect will commence once we've completed the 2021 drill program and the geologic model update subject to Donland Gold LLC board approval. Donlin Gold is committed to support the needs of its community partners and second quarter community engagement highlights can be seen on slide 14. In April, Donlin Gold was a major sponsor of the Lower Kuskokwim School District's annual college and career fair held virtually. More vendors participated this year and approximately 100 students attended. Nova Gold and Donland Gold made significant contributions to the Thomas Lodge in Crooked Creek after a fire. Funds were used to repair this critical asset prior to the busy summer season. To date, Donlon Gold LLC has signed seven shared value statements with villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region that formalize current engagement with local communities. These engagements expand upon the long term relationships already established with these communities and address specific community needs such as water, sewer and landfill projects, salmon studies and suicide prevention programs. Novigold also sponsored and participated in the mining for Pythro in May, a fundraising event in support of the BC Children's Hospital located in Vancouver, British Columbia. As you can see from the photo on the bottom right, our very own Greg Lang took a pie for this worthy cause. Thank you, Greg. donlon gold operates pursuant to the terms of a subsurface minerals and surface land lease with calista corporation and a surface land use agreement with the kuskokwim corporation tkc the donlon gold project is being developed and that was selected by Chalista and TKC at the direction of YK region elders in the 1970s when land considered valuable for resource potential was selected and resource development companies were invited by the Native corporations to explore. We support Chalista and TKC mandates through the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. angsa as highlighted on slide 15 to help them develop their land for the economic benefit of the region and all stakeholders involved we are thankful for the long-term support and commitment to the project by the alaska native corporations they play a key role in its continued success in the second quarter the first subsistence community advisory committee was launched SCAC is a subcommittee of the Donlan Technical Review Committee. Chalista, TKC, and Donlan Gold initiated planning to establish this committee in 2018. The committee's objective is to establish and maintain a well-defined process for communication, dialogue, and problem solving needed among the partners. The committee is made up of diverse people from the region to provide information about local subsistence activities and traditional knowledge as it relates to the Donlon Gold project. The SCAC committee provides a forum for stakeholders to discuss issues of concern related to Donland Gold's plans, operations, or monitoring activities and their potential impact on subsistence activities, wildlife, or habitat. Recommendations related to subsistence will be made to the committee and assist them in developing and periodically updating a subsistence plan for lands and waters affected by the Donland Gold project These partnerships, activities and programs demonstrate Nova Gold's and Barrick's long standing and deep rooted commitment to sustainable and responsible development for the benefit of all stakeholders in the YK region. I will now pass it over to David Ottowell, our CFO, who will cover the financial results for the second quarter. Dave.