SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A rough diamond dug up in the NWT will be put aboard the space shuttle Endeavor for its upcoming 16-day mission to the international space station, and then donated to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre this fall when it returns to the territories.

The space shuttle Endeavour will carry a diamond from the NWT on its upcoming 16-day mission to the International Space Station. - photo courtesy of NASA

The diamond, unearthed at DeBeers Snap Lake mine, was donated to Astronomy North which arranged the launch with the Canadian Space Agency.

"When astronauts take part in a space mission, they are allowed to bring a limited amount of items," said Carol Duval, communications advisor for the Canadian Space Agency.

"Some astronauts decide to bring some crests from past schools, some crests from cities or any other types of items that are of interest to them. (The diamond) was suggested to Julie Payette and she agreed."

Duval said the launch date currently is set for June 13.

"Hopefully at some point we will be able to send Julie up North and give it back to the organization."

The process of getting the diamond into space has kept Astronomy North president James Pugsley busy for eight months, but he still has more work ahead of him.

"With this announcement today we are actually launching the Legendary Sky Project," said Pugsley - It's a project that is estimated to take another four years to complete, and a project which the diamond is a mascot.

"The Legendary Sky Project's objectives are to collect and preserve Northern sky knowledge and heritage," said Pugsley.

"Five hundred years ago, before the Europeans settled here, the aboriginals had a very different perspective about the sky. This is a good opportunity to learn from that - for the whole world to learn from that."

Pugsley and Astronomy North are set to conduct interviews and do research around the communities of the Northwest Territories, in an effort to compile an online database that will be accessible to Northerners, and specifically to students.

Astronomy North will be working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to integrate the knowledge with the school curriculum.

"We want kids to learn about their sky, as told by the leaders and elders in their community."

The diamond, Pugsley said, is both a symbol of the Northwest Territories and an educational tool as the diamond was formed very early in the lifespan of the Earth.

"We didn't want to use a polished diamond, we wanted to use a rough diamond, because it's a better symbol of natural history on Earth as opposed to a cut and polished diamond, which has a very strong monetary value attached to it," said Pugsley.

Chuck Arnold, the director of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, shared the sentiments about the space-faring rock's value.

"It certainly is important because of the current societal importance of diamonds - to the well-being and employment opportunities for the North," said Arnold.

"But it's also scientifically important; it's a part of our natural history that's been buried in the ground for a long period of time and we're just now beginning to understand the science of diamonds."

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said "it's kind of an exciting day when a diamond that was mined and prepared in the North gets to go on a ride like that."

Right now, the diamond is in the hands of the NASA, getting ready for flight, and Pugsley is thinking about the other aspects of the Legendary Sky Project - the huge task of collecting traditional knowledge and presenting it in a way that will connect Northerners with the sky.

"It's not just simply 'give us your knowledge' - that's the last thing we want to do," said Pugsley.

"We want to do this in a meaningful way that will really allow people to engage and learn from this knowledge."

Pugsley is thrilled with the challenge and is excited to see a part of the Northwest Territories launch into the great beyond.

"We consider this to be a legendary way to launch a legendary project."