For immediate release
January 21, 2002DE
BEERS SIGNS MOU WITH FIRST NATION
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, January. 21, 2002 -
De Beers Canada Mining Inc. and the Dogrib Treaty 11 Tribal
Council are pleased to announce the
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to negotiate
a Participation Agreement (PA) regarding development of
a diamond mine at Snap Lake, NT.
"The participation and support of the Dogrib first
nation is important to the success of the Snap Lake Diamond
Project," said John McConnell, Vice President - NWT
Projects. "We are proud of the progress represented
by this MOU."
"We look forward to a productive relationship with
De Beers," said Dogrib Treaty 11 Grand Chief Joe Rabesca.
"A Participation Agreement with De Beers will assist
all Dogrib communities in moving towards self-sufficiency," said
Deputy Grand Chief Charlie James Nitsiza of Wha Ti.
In the MOU, De Beers and the Council agree to a schedule
for negotiating the Participation Agreement and to a framework
that will guide the discussions. Topics for negotiation
include training and jobs, business opportunities, and
De Beers' responsibilities as the operator of the mine.
It is hoped that the Participation Agreement can be ratified
in April 2002.
Snap Lake is De Beers' leading diamond project in Canada
and is currently undergoing the environmental assessment
review necessary for permitting. De Beers proposes to build
an underground diamond mine on the property, which is located
220 km northeast of Yellowknife. In addition to Snap Lake,
the company has exploration programs in other parts of
the Northwest Territories, as well as Saskatchewan, Manitoba
and Ontario.
- Ends -
| For
further information contact:
|
Linda Dorrington
Manager - Public and Corporate Affairs
De Beers Canada
Email: linda.dorrington@ca.debeersgroup.com
Tel: (416) 645-1710 ext 412 / (905) 849-0619 |
|
