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From right, review board members Percy Hardisty, Darryl Bohnet, James Wah-Shee, Richard Edjericon (Chair), Richard Mercredi, Peter Bannon and Danny Bayha listen to testimony during Wednesday's public meeting regarding Encore Renaissance Resource's proposed mineral exploration in the Drybones Bay area. - Laura Busch/NNSL photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Members of the public came together this past Monday and Tuesday to express their concern over further development in the Drybones Bay area of Great Slave Lake.

"If they take that land, how are we supposed to take the kids out and teach them the things we used to do in the past?" asked Dene elder Alfred Baillargeon. "What is the Government of Canada thinking when they give permission for exploration of our land when we say no?"

The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board held a public hearing at the Ndilo gymnasium on Sept. 12 and 13 to review of Encore Renaissance Resources' proposed diamond exploration project on the north shore of Great Slave Lake between Wool Bay and Drybones Bay.

"I think it's in everyone's best interest to stop development," Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus told the board in his closing statement. "I think it ought to be set aside as a sacred site or as a historical site that needs protection, and third party interests should not take priority."

The land in question contains old burial sites, the remains of a traditional Yellowknives Dene village, and is currently used by the Dene people for fishing, moose hunting, teaching youth about traditional knowledge as well as other cultural practices.

In the original environmental assessment report on this project, which was submitted by the review board back in Nov. 2007, the cultural significance of this area was taken into account.

"What the board concluded was that the area contains many heritage sites - many of them are undocumented - it concluded that this area matters particularly to the Yellowknives because many of the other areas where they used to do traditional lifestyle things are now not available to them," said Alan Ehrlich, senior environmental officer for the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board. "And it's raising concerns about their ability to transmit their cultural identity to their descendents."

This public meeting was held only in regards to the measures the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development sent back to the board.

In the original environmental assessment report on this project, submitted by the review board back in Nov. 2007, measures were proposed that would require the federal and territorial governments, as well as the developer, to consult with and seek permission from all affected Aboriginal groups before further development (measure 3) and that a long-term management plan be put in place to analyze the cumulative effects non-aboriginal and industrial development activities have had on the north shore of Great Slave Lake (measure 4).

In a letter dated Apr. 13, 2010, then-Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Chuck Strahl asked the board to reconsider most of the proposed measures.

"The responsible ministers recognize the need for planning in the Drybones Bay area and appreciate the intent behind measures 3 and 4. However, the proposed 'plan of action' and long-term monitoring program are considered excessive for a proposed small-scale exploration project," said the letter. "Furthermore, Canada has the recognized authority over this area until a land claim is settled and the acceptance of measure 3 would indicate otherwise."

Members of the community who spoke at the hearings disagree.

"We want to point out that Canada does not own this land," said Sheryl Greive, manager of the environment for the North Slave Metis Alliance. "They are supposed to be managing this land on our behalf, not in spite of us."

Concerned community members as well as the findings of the review board in 2007 also disagree with Strahl's contention that a monitoring program would be "excessive." They said economic development, urban development and recreational activities have invaded an alarming amount of traditional Yellowknives territory over the years.

"If you step back and look at the big picture, we've been slowly pushed out of our territories," said Dettah Chief Edward Sangris.

"The board concluded (in 2007) that the cumulative cultural impacts are at a critical threshold," said Ehrlich. "And if this threshold was surpassed it would result in a significantly diminished cultural value of this area, and that that would be unacceptable."

For now, the community would prefer the Government of Canada postpone all further development in the Akaitcho region until the ongoing land claim negotiations have been settled.

"Let's give Mother Earth a chance to heal," said Ndilo Chief Ted Tsetta. "We're not saying we're anti-development, but let's pace ourselves."

The review board will now meet to examine all the evidence and will likely render its decision within the next two months.

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