Fort Resolution (Mar 20/06) - After more than a year of wrangling, Tamerlane Ventures and trapper Eddie Lafferty have managed to settle their differences.

Eddie Lafferty displays a trap and box damaged on his trapline by Tamerlane Ventures while clearing snow from what were thought to be gravel roads during February 2005. - NNSL file photo

Tamerlane, which is proposing to re-open the Pine Point lead and zinc mine between Fort Resolution and Hay River, raised Lafferty's ire when it destroyed his traps while removing snow from what were thought to be gravel roads in February 2005.

Instead, the company tore up his trapline.

"I'm glad to have it settled," he said.

Lafferty previously estimated he had lost 52 traps, 17 snares and 34 boxes worth $1,259 and was also seeking money to cover his lost income for the season.

"We agreed to compensate him for last year's furs and his equipment," said Ross Burns, Tamerlane president and chief executive officer. "It came to about $3,200."

Back at work on the line that had been disturbed last year, Lafferty said this winter has been a great one for him.

"The area is called N-81 and is down around the Big Buffalo River," he said. "This year I got about 40 marten there and a couple of lynx as well."

With the company still anxious to re-open the mine, Lafferty said if he is eventually forced to re-locate to a new area, he'll expect to be compensated further.

Estimating there are reserves sitting in the ground worth almost $2 billion, based on current base metal prices, Tamerlane is continuing talks with First Nations to gain their blessings to move forward at Pine Point. Last week, the company thought it had an agreement with the Deninu Ku'e First Nation regarding a small project resulting in four short-term jobs for residents.

"I just got off the phone with Fort Resolution and the surveying work can go ahead," said Burns. "There's some communication going on which is encouraging."

But at the First Nation, senior administrative officer Irvin Norn took part in that same phone call and was shocked that Burns thought an agreement had been reached.

"No, there's no deal," he said. "There's a great deal of frustration - that's it."