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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
An irritated Alex Debogorski is asking to be excused from work required to keep his exploration claims active in the Drybones Bay area, while "jurisdictional issues" are sorted out between the federal government and the First Nations.

Alex Debogorski: Not happy about being embroiled in what he considers a jurisdictional dispute between Canada and the First Nations.

The blanket section 81 request was made during a public hearing for the Ice Road Truckers star's proposed 10-hole diamond exploration drill program in the area. His request was made during a Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board held in the Ndilo gymnasium last Wednesday.

"I'm not happy about being embroiled in what I consider a jurisdictional dispute between Canada and our First Nations," Debogorski said. "The Drybones area should have a blanket Section 81, with an option to apply for a developer."

Under the NWT and Nunavut Mining Regulations section 81, a lessee, permittee, or holder of a mineral claim can be relieved of the minimum amount of work required to keep a claim in good standing.

Debogorski was granted a section 81 last year for his Drybones Bay area claim, about 50 km southeast of Yellowknife, under the condition that he make an effort to develop the property, he said. The prospector applied to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board for a permit to do work, and, after a preliminary screening, he was passed on to the review board for an environmental assessment due to public concern.

At the hearing, Debogorski asked for a blanket section 81 due to the number of active mineral claims in the Drybones Bay area, all of which are opposed by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.

"So, if a person has a mineral claim out there and feels that he'd like to develop it, that he could apply through the board to do development," Debogorski said. "But if he'd rather not be embroiled in some of the ongoing arguments that he could put it off until a plan has been developed, or other things have calmed down in this area."

The Yellowknives, represented at the hearing by advisor Todd Slack, accused the federal government of "management failures" over the area, citing seven environmental assessments for the Drybones Bay area and eight hearings held.

"On Sept. 12 and 13, the elders, the current leadership, and all of the past chiefs submitted their views and recommendations," Slack said, referring to last month's public hearing to review Encore Renaissance Resources' proposed diamond exploration project on the north shore of Great Slave Lake between Wool Bay and Drybones Bay. "YKDFN are again forced to make their case."

Slack read from a letter signed by all the past chiefs which began: "The Drybones Bay area is a special place to the YKDFN. Culturally, this area is without parallel and the highest level of protection is needed. The people's use of this area has been significantly impacted by the level of development and the subsequent effects that arise out of these impacts, and we have seen our treaty rights considerably degraded over the last decades."

Chief Ted Tsetta recently said in comments to the land and water board that "the YKDFN steadfastly maintains its opposition to permits in Drybones Bay, an area which is said to contain burial sites.

"The land in this area is of such value to the First Nation that it cannot afford to have further development."

The review board is expected to have a decision on whether the project should go ahead, and, if so, what measures would be in place to mitigate any impacts, in the new year.

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