Yellowknives Dene seek judicial review of Drybones Bay exploration

February 15, 2012

Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The Yellowknives Dene want a judicial review of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board's decision to allow diamond mining in Drybones Bay.

The band argues the area holds significant historical sites that might be disturbed.

The review board gave Alex Debogorski permission to explore for diamonds at the site in January.

In releasing their decision the board said conditions, including the requirement that all prospecting activity stay 30 meters from historic sites, should mean the area is protected.

However, Chief Edward Sangris said the Yellowknives Dene don’t trust the rules to protect their cultural sites because of past experiences.

"There has been about a thousand hector forest fire that happened that burned one of our grave yards. We don't feel comfortable that any more exploration and development should happen until these things are fixed."

Sangris said it's not that they are against mining in general.

"We have three operating mines in our territory, which we call Chief Dry Geese Territory."

The Mackenzie Valley Review Board said they couldn't comment because the matter was before the courts.

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