N.W.T. diamond rush worries Dogrib bands

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ByEager prospectors have staked claims to thousands of kilometres north of Great Slave Lake in a rush to cash in on what could be a major diamond find.

But the lure of huge returns on what could become North America's only diamond mine is causing headaches for the region's Dogrib bands, who are trying to settle a land claim.

"Oh yes, we have lots of concerns...We've got a map. The whole area is taken up," said Henry Zoe, who represents most of the six Dogrib bands scattered throughout the region in the territorial legislature.

"We've got to figure out what to do. Do we go to Ottawa and ask for a land-freeze? Do we go to the courts and ask for an injunction (to prevent further staking)? These are some of the issues."

Since November, more than 25,000 square kilometres have been gobbled up in new mining claims, an area nearly as large as Belgium. And federal mining officials say the area -- already believed to be the largest area ever staked in North America -- could double by the time all the companies have finished their staking.

Dia Met Minerals Ltd. - a small exploration company -started the rush last year when they announced their discovery of diamonds under Lac de Gras.

Tom Hoefer, general manger of the N.W.T. Chamber of Mines, said the initial discovery was based on a small test drill. Although the sample could not prove diamonds are going to be the next big northern export, the results were strong enough to warrant bigger, more expensive explorations.

"These guys go in and drill one hole and hit diamonds. It's incredible," he said. "If someone had said there might be diamonds in that area a few years ago, they would have been laughed at."

The Dogribs, however, are not laughing.

"There's a great concern that there is a lot of land being alienated," Dogrib Tribal council chief Eddy Erasmus said in an interview with Yellowknife-based Press Independent newspaper.

"We don't like what we see. But what the hell can you do?" said Jonas Sangris, chief of Dettah, a small Dogrib community near Yellowknife.

Political difficulties within the Dogrib nation stemming from the collapse of the Dene-Metis land claim in 1990 have delayed a formal response to the diamond rush,

Zoe said. But the tribal leadership is meeting in August and hopes to formulate an official position.

In the meantime, representatives of BHP Minerals Ltd., one of the biggest investors in the massive staking, have met with the bands to discuss concerns.

"At least we have an understanding of how fast we should act with out lobbying," Zoe said. "We are not opposing any mining development...We are for development, but on our terms."