Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 07/05) - With the Diavik Diamond Mine poised to renew a crucial permit, First Nations in the North Slave called last week for more federal cash to evaluate its environmental foot print.

"There is a chronic shortage of funding for aboriginal groups involved in monitoring," said Bill Enge, president of the North Slave Metis Alliance. "Aboriginals have been stewards of the land since time immemorial. It is time for (Ottawa) to provide us with the money to continue that."

Earlier this summer, Diavik announced it would seek a 15-year water license when its current five-year permit expires in 2007.

The company will have to submit reams of technical data to support the application and First Nations worry they will not be able to evaluate without more research money.

"While Diavik has done an excellent job (environmentally), these hearings are an important check and balance," Enge said.

There are no major concerns surrounding Diavik, located about 300 kilometres north of Yellowknife on Lac de Gras. The massive project received high marks from the Environmental Monitoring Board in its annual report released last week.

The board was created to track ecological changes around the mine and includes members from Diavik and First Nations in Yellowknife, Dettah, Rae-Edzo and Lutsel K'e among other communities.

The annual report suggested that fish stocks in Lac de Gras remain healthy, though there were some concern the mine has altered the migratory routes of caribou. The extent of the change remains undetermined, however.

Executive director John McCullum said while Diavik has been responsible, aboriginal groups should still have the chance to evaluate its technical data - something that cannot happen without more money.

"The people who have been here for thousands of years (are) simply unable to access the process," he said.

Shannon Ward, manager of Environment and Conservation with Indian and Northern Affairs, said the federal government takes the concerns seriously.

A joint program between Ottawa and Yellowknife provides about $1.5 million annually for the North Slave First Nations with unsettledland claims. When there is a shortfall, DIAND works hard to find other sources of money, Ward said.

"There is a lot of funding out there," she said Wednesday. "When it is not sufficient, the government is open to other means of support."

There are no plans to revisit the $1.5 million environmental monitoring figure, Ward said.

The North Slave Metis Alliance, which will soon have two environmental scientists on staff, has asked the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board to delay hearings into Diavik's water license.

The organization needs more time to evaluate technical reports, Enge said.