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BAKER LAKE - Peter Tapatai of Baker Lake is upfront and honest about his support for the mining industry.

The owner of Tapatai's Expediting also takes his position as a member of the community liaison committee very seriously.

Community liaison committee member Casey Tulurialik would like to see Areva's Kiggavik uranium project go ahead on the land near Baker Lake. - photo courtesy of Barry Mccallum

Tapatai said the committee plays a vital role in the exchange of information between Areva Resources and the community.

He said any system that allows the public to participate, gather information and understand key issues is a big step in keeping a community properly informed, whether everyone perceives it that way or not.

"The committee is an excellent tool to keep the community informed as to what types of things will go on with uranium mining," said Tapatai.

"If people have questions relating to uranium mining, Areva makes every attempt to provide answers."

Tapatai said he supports mining for a number of reasons.

He said with land claims settled, it's time to cautiously move forward.

"We have all these institutions and government agencies in place to make sure mining companies abide by the rules and regulations.

"We have to give them the opportunity to exercise their appointments and perform their jobs.

"What's the point in having these institutions if they're not working to make projects safe and feasible?

"I don't see the Nunavut government coming up with new jobs, and we have a huge population of youth constantly looking for work."

Tapatai said resource development will offer good jobs to Inuit. He said as long as the mining companies abide by the rules and regulations, Inuit should work with them to create jobs for area youth.

"It would be unfair for me to say right now if there is a no or a yes in the community of Baker Lake regarding the Areva project.

"There's still more community consultation that needs to be done properly, the way Areva been's trying to do it to this point, in my opinion."

Tapatai said he puts no stock in claims of the liaison committee being hand-picked by Areva.

He said committee members are simply trying to put information out and do what's right for the community.

"All the members were appointed by their own organizations - elders, HTO, hamlet, youth, education - so I don't understand how anyone can say it's a stacked deck.

"People can ask any question they want and an answer is provided.

"Areva brought elders and aboriginal mine workers to its recent open house, and it was interesting to listen to how it worked with aboriginal groups in Saskatchewan.

"I hope that kind of relationship of working with the community carries on here if this project moves forward."

Casey Tulurialik, 33, works for the hamlet and sits on the local District Education Authority.

Tulurialik worked for Areva briefly in 2008 and was willing to sit on the liaison committee as an education rep.

"The committee seems to be doing its job to provide information and answer questions," said Tulurialik.

"I see my role as getting information to our students and keeping them informed as to what is going on with the Areva project.

"It's only seasonal work now, but interest among youth will get a lot stronger if it ever moves to full-time jobs.

"Right now, though, it seems evenly split in that some youth are really looking forward to those jobs, while others seem to be scared of uranium mining."

Tulurialik is also open and honest about the fact he supports the Areva project.

He said safety first always has to be the rule, and people need to have all their questions answered to have confidence in the company.

"This project would help benefit our community.

"We could easily put hundreds of people to work if the opportunity was there.

"I hear both sides talked about in town, but I hear more from the positive side, and there are many people who are looking forward to someday making good money at that mine if it ever goes ahead."