Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 19/99) - In response to growing concern over the deteriorating condition of Giant Mine, the Deton'cho Corporation has come forward with a comprehensive proposal to undertake the surface and subsurface reclamation of the property.

Yellowknives chiefs, Jonas and Fred Sangris, both sent a letter to Department of Indian and Northern Affairs minister, Jane Stewart, to support the Dene-owned development corporation in their efforts.

"It is only right that our people who care for and know the land should be the ones to restore it as closely as possible to its natural state. This is our land, and we will always live here," Jonas Sangris said.

Deton'cho Corporation president, Darrell Beaulieu, said the proposal is an attempt to ensure the bankrupt mine isn't allowed to languor in limbo.

"I don't know if you can compare it to Chernobyl, but the potential for environmental contamination is extreme," Beaulieu said.

"The surface doesn't look good, but now we're all aware there's 260,000 tonnes of arsenic underneath. We also know it's a shallow mine and it can be flooded."

The Deton'cho Corporation has worked on more than 20 mining assessment and reclamation projects.

"The First Nations people that live here certainly don't want to see the mine being put on indeterminate care and maintenance because that doesn't solve anything. All it does is postpone the problem," Beaulieu said.

"There's going to be many components to be considered in (our proposal). There has to be a long-term solution, built on short and medium-term plans. It's something that will take the commitment of all levels of government."

Dene national chief, Bill Erasmus, voiced his support for the proposal, and said Yellowknifers don't know the whole truth about Giant Mine's arsenic nightmare.

"At this point, with the mine in the state it's in, I'm more concerned about the lives of our human population than the jobs Giant may or may not generate," Erasmus said.

"The question is, is the actual and potential effect of the arsenic to the people in and around Yellowknife worth the extraction of gold. If we're going to continue to release arsenic into the environment, is it worth it and how long are we going to continue?"

Erasmus said there is no better opportunity than now, while the future of the bankrupt mine is unknown, for all interested parties to formulate a development plan for Giant.

"To me it makes sense for the City of Yellowknife to sit down with the Yellowknives Dene, GNWT and DIAND to seriously consider how the future of this mine will develop," Erasmus said.

"I'm not saying lets close the mine down, I'm saying lets do something constructive about the way it's operating."