SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Alex Debogorski's plan to explore for diamonds at Drybones Bay, opposed by the Yellowknives Dene, is going to be scrutinized by a regulatory board.

Debogorski is not fond of the idea.

"Let the circus begin," he said.

He said a meeting is planned with the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board on May 17, and at that point they will work out the details of what community consultations and the review will look like.

Chief Ted Tsetta of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation is opposed to development of the Drybones Bay area, citing the area's cultural significance to the Akaitcho Dene and concerns over the environmental impact any development would have. - NNSL file photo

"Now it's up to the review board to see what communities they want me to consult with, if we will fly to the communities and how that will be done," said Debogorski.

Drybones Bay is located on Great Slave Lake roughly 50 km south of Dettah.

Debogorski said because his is a small operation, he's hoping the review will go relatively smoothly -- even though he is facing opposition from the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.

"We aren't a big operation like BHP or Diavik, so I don't expect to be treated like them and I will be able to get the land use permit," he said. "I'm not really worried about getting the land use permit. I'll get it or I won't get it.

"The federal government told me I had make an effort to develop the land, so now there is this big process, and that's what what I'm doing," he said. "I'm not going to kill myself if I don't get it. I have other things going on. I have properties in B.C. that I am looking at, so if I can't develop things here I have other options."

A letter from the Land and Water Board recommending environmental review cited four main reasons why the project is going to environmental assessment, namely the contentious history of other applications in the Drybones Bay; the Environmental Impact Review Board's previous recommendations that no new land use permits be issued for proposed developments within the Shoreline Zone, and within Drybones Bay and Wool Bay proper, until a plan has been developed; the Environmental Impact Review Board's previous and most recent statement that the "cumulative cultural impacts (in the Drybones and Wool Bay areas) are at a critical threshold;" and significant public concern regarding the integrity of the cultural and spiritual values associated with the Drybones Bay area.

The Yellowknives Dene First Nation is opposed to development of the area, citing the area's cultural significance to the Akaitcho Dene and concerns over the environmental impact of developing the area.

In comments to the Land and Water Board, Chief Ted Tsetta gave his reasons for opposing the development.

"The land in this area is of such value to the First Nation that it cannot afford to have further development. When a land is this important, no level of risk is acceptable," said Tsetta. "The YKDFN steadfastly maintains its opposition to permits in Drybones Bay. This application should simply be refused, but as that is not possible the only option is to continue this through review to the EA, thereby burdening everyone involved in a process that YKDFN will request nothing less than the permit refusal through every means available."

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