Snowdrift (Dec 13/04) - Residents of Lutsel K'e have already started to sharpen theirskates in anticipation of their new arena.

And with the signing of a new joint-venture agreement with NahanniConstruction, even bigger changes may well be in store.

After four years of talks, Chief Archie Catholique and band leaderTerri Enzoe signed a joint-venture agreement with a Yellowknife-basedconstruction company Wednesday, the first move towards actual construction.

Diavik Diamond Mines will act as mentor and help coordinate the$4.2 million project.

"Today is the beginning of a friendship with a company that wantsto help us," Catholique said.

"It's a happy day."

The unique partnership will bring many dividends for both band andcompany.

"There's a membership of 700 people here. There's no reason why weshould hire from the outside, but that's the reality today," Catholiquesaid.

"But with the arena we're going to build, we can train our own people."

Some residents will learn the construction business literally fromthe ground up, working alongside Nahanni's experienced professionals.

Be it estimating or sub-contracting, financial management ortelephone solicitation we'll go through it, explained Ken Szarkowicz,vice-president projects with Nahanni.

"It'll be a really exciting project," he said.

Hopes are high that once its people are trained in various trades,the community can build its human resources capacity so it can push forwardwith new ventures.

"We're back in the woods trying to understand how we can take partin business opportunities," Catholique said in reference to the band's slowprogress with oil, mining and parks opportunities that are abundant in theNorth.

"We're going to sign something here that's important for ourfuture," he said.

One Lutsel K'e resident has already begun training to supervise andmaintain the arena upon it's completion. Rita Catholique, acting bandmanager, also works with Szarkowicz to learn more about project management.

"We'll guide her through the whole process," he said.

Discussions around adult education, upgrades and trades licensingwill take place with the hamlet's Aurora College centre.

Nahanni and Diavik will also have access to a newly trained andeducated pool of workers, which is vital in today's tight labour market.

Part of the reason Diavik is here is, we want to see some of theguys from this project at the Diavik mine, said Glenn Zelinski, manager,trade and labour force development for Diavik.

"If we're going to be part of the North, we have to make sure theNorth is part of us," he said.

Along with its mentorship role, Diavik has donated 12 trailers,valued at $175,000, to the band to use as a construction camp.

Ice road

Critical to expedient construction will be the building of an iceroad that links Lutsel K'e to Yellowknife.

In this way, materials won't have to be barged up in the summer,which will cut costs and save time.

Catholique plans to begin lobbying for the ice road this week.

All parties believe construction of the 50-100 seat arena, completewith dressing rooms, offices, concession stand, and aslightly-smaller-than-NHL-size rink is attainable if the ice road goesahead.

Band members are excited about the social aspect of the proposednew arena.

"It's good for the young kids that need something going on," saidMeryl Enzoe, who lives in Lutsel K'e.

"Walk around town: young kids really want this."

The project is a significant one for Nahanni, Szarkowicz said. Butwith the company's 20 years of experience, that's unlikely to pose manyproblems.

Later in the afternoon the partners held an in camera meeting. Inhis role as mentor, Zelinski took a moment to advise the group of therequired next steps before commenting, "My gut feeling on this one here isit's going to be really successful."