(submitted photo/Star Diamond Corp.) 

By Glenn Hicks

indigenous concerns

James Smith Cree Nation repeat concerns about diamond project

Nov 18, 2019 | 3:50 PM

James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) is again rejecting the potential diamond mine at Fort à la Corne unless their demands for compensation are met.

In a media release Monday, JSCN welcomed last week’s announcement about Rio Tinto’s move to acquire a 60 per cent stake in the project, but said it remained concerned their people’s interests had not been addressed. The project – which is still in its exploration phase – is located adjacent to their traditional territory.

“We have a sacred duty to protect the Treaties and lands our ancestors bequeathed us and we don’t have that yet,” Chief Wally Burns said. “We’re not opposed to development, but we will not be satisfied with beads and trinkets.”

Fellow JSCN Chiefs Robert Head and Calvin Sanderson said it was urgent “meaningful agreements were negotiated to resolve concerns about loss of lands and resources and to provide the band membership a share of the benefits from all phases of the project.”

“We’re optimistic our relationship with [Rio Tinto] is going to be a positive one,” band member and legal advisor Winston McLean told paNOW. “We must be clear [though], we have no agreement yet and we can’t say yes to the diamond mine.”

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McLean said they were looking to protect their interests in the forest: “environmentally, culturally, spiritually and of course jobs, and we’re looking forward to these things being addressed.”

Asked what that agreement might entail, McLean said it was too early to talk about compensation numbers publicly but added there had been positive indications from Rio Tinto that discussions on an exploration agreement would happen soon.

Asked about McLean’s suggestion regarding discussions on an exploration agreement, Rio Tinto told paNOW in an email the company would “continue to engage with First Nations groups to keep them informed on activities for the FalCon exploration project. We will work collaboratively with the local communities while we continue with exploration work and the results will be used to decide if the project will advance to further studies.”

In an email Friday which confirmed Rio Tinto would exercise all four options it has with Star Diamond Corporation, leading to a 60 per cent stake in the joint venture, the mining giant said, in part, it would “strictly follow all legal and regulatory standards, ensuring that our work is carried out in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.”

The company stressed the announcement did not mean the project was advancing to development.

In October, 2018 JSCN said there would be no diamond mine at Fort à la Corne until their people’s interests were satisfied and they claimed the environmental footprint of the project would be larger than the proponents had stated. The band called for benefits to include revenue-sharing.

In response, the provincial government said it did not consider resource revenue sharing as a part of any proposal going forward and revenue generated from such a project would benefit all Saskatchewan residents, not just one particular group or region.

In an email statement to paNOW Monday, Darby Semeniuk, Manager, Strategic Communications, Ministry of Environment said, in part, the ministry conducted a thorough environmental assessment for the project, and carried out in-depth consultation prior to the decision to approve the project. The statement also said the potential impacts of the project were assessed as part of the environmental assessment process, and can be addressed by proponent commitments through terms and conditions of the ministerial approval, and in permits and licences required for the project.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow