Talks have resumed between De Beers Canada and the Attawapiskat First Nation in an attempt to end the deadlock, which has brought the Victor diamond project to a halt.

The two sides met Oct. 1 and 2, a week after De Beers' late September deadline to end negotiations on continuing its winter program.

At the end of July, the First Nation asked De Beers to stop exploration fearing that the project was moving ahead too quickly. Discussions continued into September, but broke off when neither side could agree on an agenda.

De Beers is in midst of a prefeasibility study scheduled for completion by year's end. Talks are expected to continue into the second week of October.