About 50 Attawapiskat First Nation members staged a peaceful protest outside the De Beers Canada office, Aug. 19. in a show of solidarity against the way the company is sharing diamond operation revenues.
Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Hall says she's concerned that the wealth generated by diamond exploration and mining in the traditional territory of the First Nation is not being equitably hared.
"Our people are suffering in Third World poverty, while living next door to one of the largest and richest diamond mining operations in the world," says Hall.
"We have made efforts with De Beers as well as Ontario and Canada for many months in an attempt to address our issues of poverty because our people are suffering, our infrastructure is crumbling and our patience is running out."
De Beers has operated the Victor Diamond Mine, located 90 kilometres west of the main Attawapiskat settlement since late 2007.
In June 2005, the Attawapiskat First Nation voted 86 per cent in favour of ratifying an impact benefit agreement to develop the mine.
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