Victor Project

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
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
The Betrayal of Environmental Assessment
Wednesday, September 7, 2005

If anyone still thought that the environmental assessment process was there to ensure that development projects would not destroy the environment and local economies, it's time to wake up and smell the bulldozers' diesel exhaust.

Victor Project, Nunavut, Environmental Planning, Environmental Assessment, Newsletter 19: Summer 2005
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
Comments on the Comprehensive Study Report on the Victor Diamond Mine at Attawapiskat
Tuesday, July 5, 2005

The Victor project should be delayed until Attawapiskat First Nation and the communities in the Mushkekowuk Council region have created the capacity, land use planning and education to benefit from the profits from the mine over generations. Regulatory Authorities (RAs) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency have a responsibility to find that there are "significant environmental effects"?

Victor Project, Ontario, Diamonds, De Beers
DeBeers' Victor Diamond Project in Attawapiskat
Thursday, June 23, 2005

The Victor Diamond Project is located in Northern Ontario, approximately 90 km west of the coastal community of Attawapiskat. This project involves Attawapiskat First Nation, and three other remote communities on the shores of James Bay: Moose Cree, Fort Albany, and Kashechewan First Nations. It also includes three road accessible communities: Taykwa Tagamou, Chapleau Cree and Missanabie Cree First Nations.

The diamond mine will be an open pit mine with an expected life of 12 years.

Victor Project, Ontario, Diamonds, De Beers
Comments on the Environmental Assessment of the Victor Diamond Project
Thursday, October 28, 2004

October 28, 2004

Lise-Aurore Lapalme
Natural Resources Canada
580 Booth Street, 10th Floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0E4

Paul Schafer
Senior Program Officer, Ontario Region
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
907-55 St. Clair Avenue East
Toronto, ON M4T 1M2

Re: Comprehensive Study Report, Victor Project, FEAI number 40568

I am writing to provide the comments of MiningWatch Canada on the Environmental Assessment of the Victor Diamond Project at Attawapiskat.

Victor Project, Ontario, Diamonds, De Beers
Diamonds in Northern Ontario: Fighting for Responsible Mining
Sunday, March 7, 2004

MiningWatch Canada, along with Nishinawbe Aski Nation (NAN), Northwatch and Mushkegowuk Tribal Council have filed highly critical comments on the plan for an environmental assessment of De Beers' Victor Project at Attawapiskat on James Bay.

Victor Project, Ontario, Diamonds, Newsletter 15: Winter 2003-2004, De Beers
MiningWatch Canada Comments on the Scoping of the Environmental Assessment of DeBeers' Victor Project at Attawapiskat on James Bay
Friday, January 23, 2004

RE: Victor Diamond Project, De Beers Canada Exploration Inc., FEAI Reference Number 40658 - Draft Guidelines for the Conduct of a Comprehensive Study and the preparation of a Draft Comprehensive Study Report dated December 12, 2003

Victor Project, Ontario, Diamonds, De Beers

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