Commentators on Facebook appear to be displeased with the proposed resource royalty scheme over a recently approved diamond mine near Prince Albert on James Smith First Nation traditional territory.
Some are asking the First Nation to take a stand, with one person saying there should be more resistance from leadership.
The mine has a life expectancy of 34 years. The First Nation is expected to see $160,000 a year or approximately $5.5 million in royalties.
The Sask. government could collect $6 billion in taxes and royalties over the life of the mine.
Environment Minister Dustin Duncan, who last month approved the environmental assessment for the Star-Orion diamond mine says it is not fair to compare the two amounts.
“Every company that produces a raw product, a resource product there is a royalties schedule for each of those products. The royalties that go to the province are for the benefit of all residents,” Duncan said. “Star-Diamond or whoever would be ultimately mining the diamonds, they would have to support community participation. They would have to form a stewardship committee in partnership with the James Smith Cree Nation. They would have to fund a community harvest support program and a community cultural program.”
With accusations of a lack of consultation with the First Nation, Duncan is adamant the duty to consult was met.
Yet when the government approved the assessment in October, the First Nation stated there were concerns around the potential impacts of the diamond mine on traditional lands and lack of proposed economic benefits to First Nations people.
“The way things stand, everyone else gets the benefits of a mine while we get left with all the consequences. There will be no mine until the peoples’ interests are satisfied.” James Smith Cree Nation Chief Wally Burns said in a press release.
Winston McLean, an advisor to the James Smith Cree Nation.
“Been with the province for years now, took us a long time to convince them of many things and despite that, at the last minute, they just surprised us,” he says. “And we don’t believe that’s how partnerships are supposed to work.”
McLean calls the government’s offering as “scraps.”
Duncan confirms that he has not had direct dialogue with the First Nation about its concerns since the announcement last month. The First Nation says it will consider its options.
(With files from Fraser Needham.) (PHOTO: Star-Orion South Diamond Mine Project map. File photo.)