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BAKER LAKE - More than 200 people attended an open house at various times in Baker Lake this past month hosted by Areva Resources Canada Inc.

The topic of discussion during the twoday event was Areva's Kiggavik uranium project.

Mayor David Aksawnee address the gathering at Areva Resources's open house in Baker Lake in April of 2009 as the company's manager of Nunavut affairs, Barry McCallum looks in the background while wearing translation headphones. - photo courtesy of Barry McCallum

Areva president Vincent Martin was among the company representatives who met with about 35 Baker elders, and also hosted a public forum for company reps and community liaison members to field questions from the public.

Displays were placed around the room during the public meeting, and a computer animation program projected on a big screen showed the tundra between Baker and the Kiggavik site, what the site would look like, and possible road options between the community and the site.

Those in attendance were given in-depth information packages on the project.

A group of Dene elders from the McClean Lake uranium mine site in Saskatchewan were also present to answer any questions asked of them by the public.

Areva's manager of Nunavut affairs, Barry McCallum, said he was pleased with the turnout, but disappointed a number of other displays didn't arrive on time due to transport difficulties.

He said most of the comments made during the gathering were positive, but there was opposition voiced by members of the Baker Lake Concerned Citizens Committee (BLCCC).

"Concerned citizens Joan Scottie and Hugh Ikoe were quite challenging," said McCallum.

"Ikoe basically accused me of stacking the community liaison committee, which is something I would never contemplate doing because you know you'd be accused of it.

"When we formed our liaison committee, we started with the hamlet, Hunters and Trappers Organization, District Education Authority and elders.

"We made a proposal to council that we'd like to start an ongoing engagement with a community group, and we proposed these four organizations and wanted to know what the council members thought.

"They formally endorsed us in a letter and they added youth."

McCallum said he asked each group to appoint a representative and an alternate to meet with the company.

He said the selected representatives wanted four or five more community groups involved, so letters were immediately written to them and they agreed to join the liaison committee.

"The liaison members were selected by hamlet council and the committee itself, so I don't know how we can be any more transparent," said McCallum.

"Right from the start, they've (BLCCC) accused me of buying people off and putting my friends on the committee.

"Nothing could be further from the truth."

The Baker Lake Concerned Citizens Committee refused to be interviewed by Kivalliq News about Areva's Kiggavik project.