Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 01/01) - Five aboriginal groups have signed participation agreements with Diavik Diamond Mines ensuring training, employment and business opportunities.

"Over the past two years we've been discussing these participation agreements," said Diavik spokesperson Tom Hoefer.

The Diavik agreements were signed by the Lutsel K'e Dene band, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council and the North Slave Metis Alliance.

The agreements have been signed by all of the mine's aboriginal neighbours.

"We have a socio-economic monitoring agreement that we signed with the territorial government which addresses issues like training, employment and business issues for Northerners," Hoefer said.

Participation agreements take that one step further and allow customized arrangements with each group, said Hoefer. The mine is slated to begin production in early 2003.