Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 18/00) - There's a new cutter and a new cut on the diamond wheel.

At its grand opening in Ndilo last Thursday, Deton'Cho Diamonds, majority owned by the Yellowknives Dene band, unveiled the Dene Rose cut.

The cut is unusual because of its octagonal shape, compared to more well-known cuts like round, pear-shaped or emerald.

"Norbert Brinkhaus (of Vancouver and Calgary-based Brinkhaus Jewellers) liked it," said Frans Van Looy.

Van Looy, the plant's production manager, is a part owner of Deton'Cho Diamonds. The Brinkhaus family is also a part owner through a subsidiary company.

During the grand opening, Van Looy's enthusiasm about the new plant, its product and its workers, was equalled only by those who were given a close-up look at finished diamonds.

Van Looy even rolled out 18 rough stones, each over four carats uncut, from Ekati, for visitors to see.

The Dene Rose is one of two new cuts being produced at Deton'Cho Diamonds. The other is an Astor cut, which is similar to the Dene Rose but with fewer facets.

"(We are) awaiting certificates from the government, then the diamonds can go public," Van Looy said.

The certificates, from the territorial government, will assure those who buy diamonds from Deton'Cho Diamonds that the gems were cut, polished and mined in the NWT.

The certification process is being designed with Deton'Cho Diamonds and Arslanian Cutting Works (NWT). The first certificates should be issued by the end of this month or early November.

Darrell Beaulieu, Deton'Cho Diamonds president and Deton'Cho Corp. CEO, said during the development of the Ekati diamond mine there were people who said they were not interested in working at the mine.

The idea being, "maybe we should pursue a spin-off within the community," said Beaulieu, who has worked in the mining and exploration business in the North.

"We were told early it may never be done in North America, let alone by aboriginal people."

Deton'Cho Diamonds currently employs 29 people at the plant.

Economic Development Minister Joe Handley also spoke about critics of a Northern-based value-added diamond industry.

"There were those that said this can't happen. It's now 2-0 for our side," he said.

And a third diamond cutting and polishing plant is due within a couple of months, added Handley.

After Sirius Diamonds and Deton'Cho Diamonds, Arslanian Cutting Works (NWT), a joint venture of the Dogrib and the Arslanian family, will be the third plant in the NWT.

"We've proven that there is a diamond value-added industry for the North."

Dene elders Isadore Sangris and Isadore Tsetta, who spoke through a translator, noted the value of co-operation.

In the past there were hardships, but there is value in "working together as aboriginal and non-aboriginal," said Sangris.

Tsetta said he also wants aboriginals and non-aboriginals to work together.

"This building is for the future and everybody will be working together," he said.