Chief left out of big picture
Deninu K'ue chief Louis Balsillie writes minister over impact benefit agreements
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, February 9, 2015
DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION
Chief Louis Balsillie of Fort Resolution's Deninu K'ue First Nation has written the federal government- repeatedly-over the last five months to complain about his band's exclusion from some impact benefit agreements (IBAs) with mining companies.
Louis Balsillie, chief of Deninu K'ue First Nation, has requested a meeting with Bernard Valcourt, minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. - NNSL file photo |
The three letters to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister Bernard Valcourt have gone unanswered. The letters were sent in September, December and most recently in January.
"I would hope we would have a reply, but nothing," said Balsillie.
The chief has also invited Valcourt to visit Fort Resolution to discuss the issue in person.
"We need to know how we were left out of the big picture of the IBAs paid to other communities," said Balsillie.
The chief said Deninu K'ue First Nation (DKFN) has been left out of a number of IBAs since the 1990s when other bands starting signing agreements with mining companies.
"So I'm asking Mr. Valcourt to give me a reason why," he said.
In his first letter in September, the chief noted the federal government recommended to the diamond mining companies that they deal with First Nations in Yellowknife or closer to the mines, although Deninu K'ue is part of Akaitcho Territory.
Balsillie said it's insulting to see other communities move forward with their development corporations while the Deninu K'ue Development Corporation is left in the dust.
"We're just idle," he said.
DKFN does have an IBA with Avalon Rare Metals and another signed late last year with De Beers Canada for the proposed Gahcho Kue diamond mine.
However, Balsillie noted there is currently not much movement with Avalon and the agreement with De Beers Canada doesn't kick in until 2016.
"Right now, they're in a development stage," he said of the Gahcho Kue project.
"Once they start bringing in diamonds, then we get the IBA off that, but that would be 2016."
Prior to those agreements, Deninu K'ue only benefitted from an IBA in a roundabout way.
Although not a signatory to the agreement for the Ekati diamond mine, DKFN has received $250,000 a year since 2008 from Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, which signed the agreement.
Balsillie noted that, since Deninu K'ue signed the IBA with De Beers, companies have been proposing joint ventures.
Balsillie said for some reason, mining companies believe Deninu K'ue people don't use the land in which the diamond mines are located north of Great Slave Lake.
"We're not asking for very much," he said, adding the band is just asking for the same treatment as other communities.
Balsillie said he is not sure if Valcourt will ever respond to his letters.
However, the chief may be getting a response soon.
"I can confirm that we've received the correspondence," said Emily Hillstrom, the press secretary with Valcourt's office, in an e-mail response to questions from News/North.
"We will respond shortly."
