‘We move at the speed of trust’

“Gold dust got into everything — into the water, into the berries.”

– YKDFN Dettah Chief Ernest Betsina

Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) and the Det’on Cho Group of Companies facilitated a Modern Gold Mining Workshop in a Dettah on Monday.

The all-day Dettah workshop mirrored one held on Saturday in Yellowknife City Hall Council Chambers.

The City of Yellowknife was behind the two workshops, stating they were to discuss how modern gold mining differs from the region’s historical mining legacy.

Mark Clark-Phillips, Executive Director of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Inquiry Review Board (MVEIRB), spoke on the Giant Mine Disaster, as it was called in the agenda notes, to reflect on past mistakes and, “how today’s rules and safeguards aim to prevent those mistakes” from happening again.

According to Clark-Phillips, emerging pressures for communities in the North includes critical mineral demand, climate change, Arctic sovereignty, and cumulative effects.

As represented by MVEIRB, the significance of community involvement is paramount, so that co-management has the opportunity to build trust, transparency and predictability, incorporating Indigenous law, knowledge and worldviews, and improve environmental aspects.

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“For most of the 20th century, decisions about norther land, water and mining were made in Ottawa. Indigenous governments and northern resident had little or no role in shaping development,” he said.

With changes to the global economy coming fast into play here in our local economies, the YKDFN membership turnout of some 90 people showed the significance of these decisions and how members are educated and involved in decision making and future projects.

Joe Campbell, Mineral Advisor to the Kivalliq Inuit Association on gold refining technology, with members hearing about processing pathways for the mineral and what risks still exist — even with new technology to help manage those risks.

Darrell Beaulieu, President and CEO of Denendeh Investments, spoke on Indigenous Mine Ownership, Governance and Infrastructure to inform YKDFN members on various aspects of Indigenous Governments and corporations can share ownership, revenue, and decision-making in minding projects.

On Indigenous participation in mining, Beaulieu said, “there’s a lot of times we’ve been left behind, but it’s our responsibility to make sure we’re not left behind any longer.”

Since 1938, Beaulieu said, there have been 88 mines in the NWT and about 80% of those are in Chief Drygeese territory.

“Like our parents and grandparents, and our forefathers, they’re looking after their people, economically, socially, politically — that’s how we got to look at it, holistically.”

On negotiations with Indigenous Peoples, Beaulieu said that “we move at the speed of trust.”

He and Elder John Bekale learned that “there is interest in a partnership approach (between Industry and Indigenous Peoples) as long as the water, land, and wildlife is protected.”

Beaulieu listed many projects advancing Indigenous Equity Ownership, including Selkirk First Nation, with Minto Mine in the Yukon. 

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