Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 04/00) - Neither side is budging in the dispute between BHP and the Akaitcho First Nation.

"We have agreements in place that run for the life of the mine," said BHP spokesperson Graham Nicholls. "As far as we're concerned the agreement we have applies to the (expansion)."

Akaitcho chiefs want BHP to negotiate a new Impact and Benefit Agreement (IBA) for three new diamond bearing kimberlite pipes the mine hopes to develop on its Lac de Gras claim block.

BHP maintains the agreement applies to the block, not specific pipes, and stands no matter how many new pipes it develops in that area.

"My position basically, is to get all parties to sit down and resolve this," said Dettah chief Richard Edjericon.

Edjericon said the company has yet to respond to a letter the band sent Aug. 14 and has not returned phone calls.

Nicholls said a response to the letter "is forthcoming."

Akaitcho chiefs hope to discuss the IBA in a meeting they are attempting to arrange with Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Robert Nault for later this month.

Edjericon, Ndilo chief Peter Liske and Lutsel K'e representatives last week said the IBA was negotiated hastily because the federal government had imposed a 60-day deadline.

But Nicholls said negotiation of the IBA began long before the deadline was imposed, in February 1996. The agreement was signed the following November.

Pressure at home

The Yellowknives chiefs are facing pressure as well as applying it.

Edjericon and Liske have been dogged by questions from band members about where the BHP money is being spent.

At a meeting on Sunday, the Yellowknives decided to hold a three-day assembly to review band financial statements and implement a broad range of policies to guide council.

"We want them to show us how they've been accountable to us," said band member Joanne Erasmus.

Though no dates have been firmed up, the assembly is scheduled to take place before the end of November.