Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 29/99) - The Dogrib Treaty 11 council has joined the Canadian Arctic Resources Committee in calling for a panel review of the Diavik project.

Yesterday the Treaty 11 council issued a press release stating new Indian Affairs and Northern Development minister Robert Nault should not rely on his officials to present the Dogrib position on Diavik.

"Our position is clear," stated Grand Chief Joe Rabesca in the release. "We feel very strongly that there must be a full panel review."

Yesterday CARC held a press conference on Parliament Hill asking for a panel review of the project, saying the comprehensive study of the project was not thorough enough.

The Dogribs are also telling the NWT water board to slow down.

In a Sept. 22 letter to board chairman Gordon Wray, grand chief Joe Rabesca urged Wray to reject requests from Diavik to start the water licensing process before a decision is made on the environmental review of the project.

Diavik has requested the board hold a hearing the first week of October and to arrange a meeting to prepare for the hearing.

The Dogrib Rae Band owns 51 per cent of Tli Cho Logistics, which recently signed a $12.6 million deal for work associated with building the mine.

Another Dogrib company, Nishi Khon Const., in partnership with a Montreal firm, was appointed project engineering manager for the construction of the mine.