KIVALLIQ
Dunnedin Ventures Inc.'s plans for its Kahuna Diamond Project near Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet have been put on hold.

Gabriel Anowtalik lays pipe during a diamond driller's training program in Arviat. The Nunavut Impact Review Board has recommended the proposed Kahuna Diamond Project be revised or abandoned due to social and environmental concerns. - NNSL file photo

They've been at a standstill since the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) recommended the project be modified or abandoned in its report to federal Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett this past week.

Dunnedin acquired 100 per cent interest in the project in 2014, and had planned to conduct year-round exploration from March 2016 until March 2018.

Till samples collected in 2015 revealed a high-grade sample of 6.5 carats per tonne.

Both the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) and the Aqigiq Hunters and Trappers Organization in Chesterfield Inlet have expressed concerns over Dunnedin's lack of consultations on the project.

Aqigiq has also submitted a proposal to the Nunavut Planning Commission to designate the region around Josephine River and Lake as a protected area.

Ryan Barry, NIRB executive director, said Dunnedin has conceded it did not properly consult the communities, and has apologized for the oversight.

He said the company did a smaller, prospecting-type program this past year, and, as part of the process, NIRB expects a company to talk to the communities as it plans to move ahead, and it strongly recommends it conducts follow-up sessions to keep everyone informed.

"Every proponent approaches that a little bit differently, and some better than others," said Berry.

"We released our report on April 4 and indicated, from a board perspective, the proposal should be modified or abandoned.

"What the board tried to communicate with its decision, is the fact there were a number of very key points commented on by the community and the KIA that showed, very clearly, they did not support the project at this time.

"They want, and expect, to see additional consultation on a number of key points that could be taken into how the project is actually designed."

Barry said the community of Chesterfield Inlet has expressed concern over the fact the project is proposed to be right next to, and sort of overlapping, some areas that were used by Shear Diamonds that have not been left in good condition.

He said the community feels the land has been contaminated by the previous exploration.

"The community focuses a lot on the importance of the Josephine Lake and River area for harvesting, and how this may impact wildlife and disrupt harvesting.

"They go there. They have a connection to it. They teach harvesting skills there.

"For them, the message we got was, any impact to the area would impact their own cultural pride and ability to maintain their harvesting activities, so those were pretty key components.

"There are concerns the project could affect migration routes, nesting grounds and fish habitat."

Barry said if Inuit can't go out on the land to harvest wildlife it impacts their well being and contributes to food insecurity.

"Apart from that, they also identified this area as, sort of, a natural transitory route that people would follow while travelling on the land.

"So, they expect to see a lot of archaeology in the region, and a survey should be done before any type of disruptive activity that's being proposed can be carried out."

Dunnedin has agreed to meet with the KIA and community groups in Chesterfield Inlet to consult on the project on April 12.

The company also plans to set up similar meetings for Rankin Inlet, and will meet with Nunavut's Department of Culture and Heritage to determine if there have been previous archaeological studies done.

Barry said the minister has up to 150 days to respond to NIRB's determination or send the proposal back for modification.

Regardless of the minister's decision, Barry said there would still be value in having the company hold the community consultations in Chester and Rankin.

"They could collect the feedback and plan to come back with a modified proposal that could be supported by the communities.

"We're trying to be very straight forward with the points that need to be addressed.

"And there are a number of key points, such as conducting an archaeological survey and things that will be recommended that will take time to do before the proposal can be considered again.

"The steps being taken now, we would have liked to have seen them done before the proposal ever came to us."

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