Derek Neary
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 15/99) - The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs is now extending invitations to communities that weren't initially consulted about the Highwood Resources beryllium project.

Carole Mills, acting director of renewable resources and environment for DIAND, said the invitations were to go out on Friday.

"Initially, through public consultation, like newspapers and all, everybody was invited to participate. At the more formal level though, with the increased public concern being shown, we are expanding the public consultation," she said.

Now, communities like Fort Providence will be included on the Regional Environmental Review Committee (RERC).

Michael McLeod, mayor of Fort Providence, had recently written a letter to DIAND on behalf of the hamlet council expressing their opposition to the project and frustration over not being formally consulted.

"There was a lot of hard feelings in regard to the process, or the lack of...that really rubbed people the wrong way," McLeod said. "Not to be consulted is kind of a slap in the face."

The proposed site for the beryllium mine is on the east arm of the Great Slave Lake, while the mill would be located near the Hay River Reserve. Since that would put Fort Providence downstream from the project, there has been concern expressed by the community's Resource Management Board about the risk to the water supply.

"The water is considered the main lifeline of the traditional area of our people," said McLeod.

At the Hay River Reserve, band member and spokesperson Roy Fabien said his people have absolutely no interest in having representation on the RERC. To become involved with the formal process in any capacity could be misconstrued as an indication of support for the project, he suggested.

"We are dead set against this project," Fabien said.