"The Dogrib will not oppose any issuance of licensing at this time," said Arthur Pape, legal council to the Dogrib. "The Dogrib will ask the board to set terms and conditions for the mine sites."
He added that the life of the licence should be six years.
Progress has been made on an environmental agreement with Ottawa and the company has answered many questions, Pape said.
That agreement and the signing of an impact benefit agreement with BHP have changed the Dogrib view of the project, he said.
But the Yellowknives Dene First Nation said the issue of jurisdiction over the land where the mine has been proposed needs to be finalized before a water licence can be issued.
The Yellowknives and Lutselk'e First Nations have to ratify impact benefit agreements reached with BHP.
Water board hearings resumed Monday after breaking for a month to give participants time to review scientific reports.
Before the first round of hearings, the Dogrib, Yellowknives and Lutselk'e First Nations asked for a delay so they could properly review documents pertaining to the hearing.
The final round of the hearings wrapped up yesterday with BHP asking for a licence for 11 years.
The board will meet with its three independent consultants and technical advisory committee before producing a draft licence. That draft will, in turn, be sent to intervenors for comment.
A licence is then prepared and given to Ron Irwin, northern development minister. He can either accept or reject the issuance of the licence.
BHP needs the licence to develop its diamond mine at Lac de Gras, 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife.