INFRASTRUCTURE

The ISR has a multi-million dollar infrastructure as a result of oil and gas developments. The project site includes power, water, sanitation, waste disposals, telephone and communication services and is directly accessible by commercial airlines, in addition to winter roads, barges and ocean traffic.

Yellowknife, the capital of N.W.T., is 885 kilometres (550 miles) southeast of Paulatuk. Whitehorse is 870 kilometres (540 miles) southwest of Inuvik. They are the main transit locations for developments in the western Artic.

Tuktoyaktuk is the service center for oil and gas developments in the Beaufort Sea. It has a commercial airstrip, and transit warehouse facilities for western Artic materials delivered by water transportation from the railhead at Hay River.

ABORIGINAL INVOLVEMENT

The Project is unique in that is the first time that the Inuvialuit have participated in a mineral resource project of this potential magnitude, and have been entitled to a cost share participation. DBL is working closely with the Inuvialuit to ensure that they are fully involved and informed. Inuvialuit support of the project is stated as:

“This is an important project for the Inuvialuit, it is an opportunity for the people of Paulatuk and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region to participate in a meaningful way in their northern economy. We urge Darnley Bay Resources to continue to consult closely with Paulatuk and with the Inuvialuit generally to maximize the opportunities for local people to gain skills and experience from work on the Project. The people of Paulatuk, who have invested a great deal in this initiative, are anxious for work to proceed.
Such activity is important to the Inuvialuit, but so too is the long-term health of the natural resources and wildlife of the area. We urge the Company to develop their plans with close consultation with the institutions and organizations of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region to ensure that all activities continue to be conducted to high standards of environmental and wildlife protection.”

Nellie Cournoyea
Chair/CEO, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

MINERAL RIGHTS

DBL has a cooperation/benefits agreement with the ISR to allow DBL to undertake exploration for diamonds in an Area of Mutual Interest (AMI), excluding the 7(1)(a) and Park Lands.
Image of 7(1)(a), 7(1)(b) and Crown lands.

Within the AMI, the Inuvialuit own the mineral and surface rights in the 7(1)(a) lands and only the surface rights in the 7(1)(b) lands. The Crown owns the mineral rights in the 7(1)(b) lands and both the mineral and surface rights in the Crown lands.

DBL is currently undertaking a revision of the principal terms under which the IRC had previously granted DBL the right to explore for and develop base metal resources in the 7(1)(a) lands and access to base metal exploration within the AMI.