Community / indigenous participation

Right from the initial planning stages, local communities have been widely consulted about the operation and impact of the mine. Diavik sees itself as a guest in a land where Aboriginal people assert a centuries-old presence.

Some highlights:

• Through a series of community meetings (more than 300), held in the communities themselves, Diavik actively sought community advice and developed a database of issues, comments and concerns that were incorporated into the project.
• The planned location of the mine was shifted following advice from local Aboriginal people that a new location would help minimise snow drift into the camp.
• A Socio-Economic Monitoring Agreement was signed between Diavik Diamond Mine Inc. (DDMI) and the Government of Northwest Territories, and ratified by local Aboriginal communities, which outlined Diavik's commitment to provide training, employment and business opportunities to northerners and, more specifically, indigenous northerners. DDMI has to report twice-yearly on its achievements to this end and has exceeded many of its goals.
• Private Participation Agreements were negotiated with each of five neighbouring Aboriginal groups, prior to mine construction, outlining how Diavik would work with them to maximise community benefits through such things as scholarship funding, employment and the building of local business capacity. Four of these agreements create formal implementation committees that externally verify Diavik's performance on social-cultural and economic aspects.
• The Diavik Communities Advisory Board facilitates the active involvement of local communities and government in broader socio-economic aspects of the mine.
• In 2005, Diavik was recognised as a leader in Aboriginal relations by reaching the prestigious Gold level of achievement under the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Progressive Aboriginal Relations Programme. Diavik is the first mine in northern Canada to receive this designation. The Council described Diavik as a model for all companies.
• In 2006, 87 recipients received just over $112,000 in Diavik scholarship awards. Since inception in 2001, the Diavik scholarship programme has awarded over $987,000 through over 537 individual scholarships to residents of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut's West Kitikmeot region. Scholarships are awarded by a scholarship committee and through the five Participation Agreement implementation committees. These committees are co-managed by Diavik and representatives of the five neighbouring Aboriginal groups including the Yellowknives Dene Band, Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, North Slave Metis Alliance, Kitikmeot Inuit Association, and Lutsel K'e Dene Band. The scholarship programme includes high school, post-secondary, and employee family scholarships, bursary awards, as well as scholarships awarded through the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation.
• Another of Diavik's commitments is to have between eight and 18 apprentices on site either with DDMi or its contractors. Currently, has 21 apprentices, of which all are northern and 16 are northern Aboriginal. Through Diavik, 10 northerners have achieved Journayman designations.