"If there is going to be development, we have to be a part of it," said Ndilo Chief Darrel Beaulieu.

He was one of about 300 aboriginal leaders, industry representatives and business people from across Canada at Aboriginal Energy and Resource Development's Resource Expo 2002. They met in Calgary last week for the three-day symposium where the North took centre stage.

"A lot of people don't know the stuff that's going on," said Beaulieu. "People were surprised. They were saying, 'There are diamonds in Canada?'"

Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie of NWT Premier Stephen Kakfwi both gave speeches and had their first face-to-face meeting since Fentie came to office. Fentie confirmed that the Yukon still wants to be a contender for a natural gas pipeline only three days after being sworn in.

Executives talked about BHP Billiton's Ekati Mine, Diavik Diamond Mine, the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, hydro-electric and wind power.

There were also presentations from Southerners on Alberta oil sands projects, aerospace engineering in Ontario and projects from every part of Canada.

It was the first time a major national event was organized to study how the resource sector impacts aboriginal Canada. The aim was to share with Canada's First Nations and Inuit how to best take advantage of industrial and business opportunities.

"If there is going to be product taken from the ground, how can we add value or create value from that product?" asked Beaulieau. And some of the skills learned in the resource sector will transfer to other industries.

He explained that conferences are good networking venues but also help Northerners glean ideas from other regions.

It was clear, at the resource expo, that Southern aboriginal groups look to the North as an example of what land claim negotiations and impact agreements can do for business.

"For the oil and gas companies and diamond mines there will be certainty, because we will work out the rules together.

"There will be no short cuts and we will do a thorough job," said Kakfwi.

"It is people like Jim Excell, president of Ekati Diamond Mine, Stephen Prest, of the Diavik Diamond Mine, John McConnell, of NWT De Beers, negotiating impact benefit agreements with aboriginal leaders like Grand Chief Joe Rabesca of the Dogib Nation, Chief Rick Edjericon of the Akaitcho Nation....to ensure that real jobs, training and benefits from development come to their communities and people while at the same time delivering brilliant diamonds to Tiffany's," he said.

The $400,000 symposium was the first of its kind and was billed as the largest joint effort between aboriginal business and resource companies in Canada.

Conference organizers confirmed a second will follow next year.