Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 27/99) - Trophy sport-fishing will likely not be one of the perks of working at or visiting the proposed Diavik diamond mine.

"You're going there to mine. If you are going there to fish we can start this up all over again and talk about going there to put in a lodge," said Patrick Simon, representing the Deninu Ku'e band of Fort Resolution.

Simon was one of a number of aboriginal representatives who, at a technical meeting in the city Monday, spoke against Diavik's proposal to allow sport-fishing at the mine it wants to build in Lac de Gras.

At the start of the discussion on sport-fishing at the mine, Diavik vice-president of environmental affairs Murray Swyripa said he was looking for input from delegates to clarify "mixed messages" Diavik was receiving on the sport-fishing issue.

There was nothing mixed about the messages Diavik received Monday.

"Our recommendation from our elders is no fishing," said Rachael Crappeau, representative of the Yellowknives Dene. "And when we talked to Lutsel K'e, they also said they did not want sport-fishing."

Add to the list the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and the North Slave Metis Alliance.

In a letter sent to Diavik in October, NSMA president Clem Paul wrote, "The decision to allow fishing at Lac de Gras is our decision and we decline to grant you that privilege."

Swyripa said though the message was clarified, he wished to consult with the Dogribs, who have not participated in the review process, before a decision was made.

Not a new issue

Sport-fishing and hunting was also an issue earlier in the environmental review of the mine.

At a Nov. 23 public meeting, the co-owner of a company that operated two hunting and fishing camps on Lac de Gras, said his business has been devastated by diamond activity in that area of the lake.

"Due to increasing and ongoing diamond activity, we have not operated on Lac de Gras since 1993 and have lost well over $1 million in direct revenue," said Mike Freeland, co-owner of Qaivvik Ltd.

Freeland provided figures indicating 30-38 hunting tags were issued for guests at his Lac de Gras camps between 1988 and 1992. In 1993 that number dropped to 23. The following year and ever since, no tags were issued.

Freeland is asking Diavik for compensation for losses to date and for losses for the duration of the life of mines in the area.