TLICHO
The company behind a silica exploration project on the North Arm of Great Slave Lake says the project would undoubtedly have positive impacts on the region, despite the Tlicho government's firm stance against it.

Explor, a Calgary-based company specializing in seismic data, plans to get the exploration project underway this summer, although a firm timeline has not yet been established.

Allan Chatenay, the president of Explor, said the company is still in discussion with local governments, including the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the Tlicho government and the North Slave Metis Alliance, about the proposed exploration.

Silica, which is a fine sand, has many uses, including the production of glass, fibre optics and hydraulic fracturing.

However, in a May 3 statement posted to their website, the Tlicho government came out against the project, pointing to the region's cultural and ecological value as something that should remain undisturbed.

"The Tlicho government does not support development or exploration of the area," the government stated.

"The Tlicho government has consistently been against all exploration and development in Dinaga Wek'ehodi."

Dinaga Wek'ehodi is an area of around 790 square kilometres, including shoreline, islands and part of the Great Slave Lake, according to the Tlicho website. It was identified for protection by the Tlicho, who have established a working group for the area.

It's an area frequented by many at-risk species, such as boreal woodland caribou, wolverine and numerous birds.

Chatenay says he's committed to reducing the project's footprint. That means using lightweight equipment such as remote sensing, drones and sampling methods that can be flown in by helicopter in order to understand the landscape.

"The thing to keep in mind is we haven't fully and properly delineated this resource. We're keen to do that so we can address some of these other questions, like how big it is, what does this mean for employment and business," Chatenay said.

One point of contention for the project is its proximity to Whitebeach Point, which lies at the far northern end of North Arm.

That area is the same one Husky Oil had planned to drill before dropping its exploration application in 2015.

In an online video, Explor ecologist Jesse Tigner said the current project does not include the area at and around Whitebeach Point.

Tigner said the company will be collecting information on fish species and habitat close to shore, water depth and quality, the transition zone between the land and the lake as well as conduct a survey of bird and mammal populations.

Chatenay said the company heard "loud and clear" that they should not touch Whitebeach Point.

"We're not going to explore on those four Northern mining claims. We've announced and made that very clear in all our communications. That's a unilateral action on our part," he said.

The name of the project, Whagwe, has also received condemnation from the Tlicho government, who describe it as a misappropriation of the Tlicho language and have asked Explor to use a different name instead.

"The name change ... is both inappropriate and disrespectful," the Tlicho government stated.

"The misuse of this Tlicho name implies the project enjoys the support of the Tlicho, or that it has Tlicho origin, neither of which is true."

The project was originally named Chebaducto. However, Chatenay said that name had become synonymous with Whitebeach Point and a change was needed in order to distance this project from that location.

"We wanted to reset the clock," he said. "We did (that) out of respect, not out of any desire to do something we shouldn't have."

If the project goes ahead, Chatenay said he wants to see Northern and indigenous-owned businesses operate it.

"(They) need to be the drivers of this project," he said.

"In order for anything to progress, local people have to be benefiting ... I think this project can deliver that in a pretty astonishing way."

He added the project could provide a boost to the economies of communities that take part.

"This is the kind of project that can transform the lives of many, many people in these outlying communities," he said.

"Part of the reason I took this on is I'm keen to get it right. I think we can make a difference in the lives of these people."

Explor has held one open house on the project and plans to hold more before exploration begins.

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