De Beers

Diamonds and Development: Attawapiskat and the Victor Diamond Mine
Thursday, December 15, 2011

In the last two weeks there has been an intense media storm around the current housing crisis in Attawapiskat, a remote Cree community on the coast of James Bay. One element of the story that’s getting some attention and is of particular interest to MiningWatch is the fact that the community is ‘host’ to DeBeers’ Victor diamond mine, located 90 km west of the community, upstream on the Attawapiskat River, within the traditional territory of the Omushkego Cree. The juxtaposition is stark: a diamond mine producing millions of dollars of a sparkling luxury item, next to the poverty and infrastructure deficits in Attawapiskat. It has led people to ask us: if there are millions of dollars of diamonds being taken from their traditional territory, why aren’t the conditions in the community improving?

Victor Project, Reforming Mining Laws and Policies, Ontario, Diamonds, Environmental Planning, Economic Development, Environmental Assessment, Indigenous Rights, De Beers
Incomplete Reporting Still Reveals Mining Companies' Toxic Threat: Environmental groups worry some of Canada's mines are dragging feet on federal order to report toxic mining waste
Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Joint news release with Ecojustice and Great Lakes United: New data released Friday in response to a lawsuit won last year by Ecojustice, on behalf of Great Lakes United and MiningWatch Canada, is beginning to shine a light on the toxic legacy of Canada's mining and tar sands industries. Unfortunately, despite a lawsuit and a government order to report pollutant releases, some facilities have failed to comply.

Alberta, Canada, LAB Chrysotile, Labrador, Water, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Northwest Territories, Areva/Cogema, Ontario, Québec, Saskatchewan, Barrick Gold, BHP-Billiton, Breakwater Resources, Cameco, Cliffs, Crew, De Beers, Toxics/National Pollutant Release Inventory, Goldcorp, HudBay Minerals, IAMGOLD, Imperial Metals, Inmet, Iron Ore Company of Canada, LAB Chrysotile, Newmont, Northgate, Rio Tinto, Teck, Vale (incl. Inco), Xstrata (Falconbridge/Noranda)
There Are No Clean Diamonds: What You Need to Know About Canadian Diamonds
Thursday, December 7, 2006

There are no clean diamonds. Exploring for them, digging them out of the ground and selling them requires sacrifices from the natural environment, from the wildlife and fish that live on it, and from the Aboriginal people who depend on it.

We want to ensure that the public understand that Canada’s Aboriginal communities are engaged in a daily power struggle to ensure that the mines benefit their people, and to ensure that these mines do not irreversibly damage the intricate web of life on which we all depend.

Canada, Congo - Democratic Republic, Victor Project, Africa, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Diamonds, BHP-Billiton, De Beers, Rio Tinto
Mining's Privileged Access to Land Under Challenge Across the Country
Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Opposition to the “Free Entry” system of mine claim staking is being challenged across the country by Indigenous people and private property owners.

In southern British Columbia, a “landowners’ rights group” has been formed to take on staking of the mineral rights on their lands by prospectors. (See article in the Tyee.)

British Columbia, Reforming Mining Laws and Policies, Ontario, Free Entry/Land Access, bcMetals, Indigenous Rights, Newsletter 22: Spring 2006, De Beers, Platinex
De Beers Accused of Ruining Spring Goose Hunt - Muskrat Dam
Sunday, May 21, 2006
When the community of Muskrat Dam in northern Ontario arrived at Agusk Lake for their spring goose hunt in late April this year, they discovered that exploration activities undertaken by De Beers Canada Inc. had driven away the geese. The elders of the community depend on the traditional community goose hunt for food. Muskrat Dam has a moratorium ...
Ontario, Indigenous Rights, De Beers
First Nations Declare a Moratorium on Mining Exploration and Forestry in the Far North: No Means No
Thursday, October 27, 2005

(Thunder Bay) Chiefs and representatives from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake), Muskrat Dam, Wapekeka, and Wawakapewin joined together in a common cause and declared a moratorium on mining exploration and forestry on their traditional territories. These communities are located in the so-called Far North – north of the 51st parallel in Ontario.

Reforming Mining Laws and Policies, Ontario, Free Entry/Land Access, Indigenous Rights, De Beers, Platinex
Victor Diamond Mine Undergoes Environmental Assessment
Saturday, August 13, 2005

MiningWatch has submitted comments on the Victor Diamond Mine Environmental Assessment. This huge project, on the traditional territory of Attawapiskat First Nation, is being proposed by DeBeers. It may drain and dry out over 1950 square kilometres of muskeg, will dramatically affect flows an important fish-bearing river, and will have untold effects on the social, cultural and economic life of the region.

Victor Project, Ontario, Diamonds, Newsletter 17: Autumn 2004, De Beers
Cree Cultural Perspective on the Natural World – Mike Koostachin
Friday, August 12, 2005

Attawapiskat First Nation Member Mike Koostachin submitted the following statement to the Federal Regulators on January 21, 2004. It concerns the impact of a possible diamond mine in the James Bay lowlands.

Wachay!

Victor Project, Ontario, Diamonds, Newsletter 16: Spring/Summer 2004, Indigenous Rights, De Beers
Victor Mine Environmental Assessment Decision Delayed
Friday, August 12, 2005

A number of key issues are delaying a decision on the Environmental Assessment of DeBeers' proposed Victor Diamond Mine in Attawapiskat in northern Ontario.

Ontario, Diamonds, Newsletter 18: Winter/Spring 2004-2005, De Beers
Diamond Rush in Manitoba
Friday, August 12, 2005

DeBeers has staked over 1.94 million hectares of land in north eastern Manitoba near the Hudson Bay coast, in return for a payment of $1 million to the Manitoba government - about 50 cents a hectare. The claims surround another 60,900 hectares staked by Western Warrior Resources.

Manitoba, Diamonds, Newsletter 18: Winter/Spring 2004-2005, De Beers

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