Indigenous Programme
To celebrate and showcase indigenous participation in the Canadian diamond industry, a workshop entitled “An Indigenous Perspective on 30 Years of Diamonds in Canada” will be held from 14:00 to 17:00 on Sunday 7 July 2024 in the Caribou Room at the Chateau Nova Hotel.
With a combination of informative speakers and a thoughtful panel discussion, this session will offer the opportunity to learn about how the local indigenous people of the north and the diamond industry have partnered in a mutually beneficial way over the past 30 years.
14:00 to 14:30 – Kathy Racher – Mackenzie Valley Land & Water Board
A short presentation from the Executive Director at the Mackenzie Valley Land & Water Board providing a summary of the current project review process in the NWT, and a board perspective on what has gone well with respect to the diamond industry and things that might be done better.
14:30 to 15:30 – Panel #1: Employment and Business Impacts of 30 Years of Diamonds in the North
Moderator: Wally Schumann – NWT Mẻtis Nation
Panelists:
- Paul Gruner – CEO, Tłı̨chǫ Investment Corporation
- Mark Lewis – CEO, Det’on Cho Group of Companies
- Marc Whitford – CEO, Metcor Inc.
- Leigh-Anne Palter – CEO, Denesoline Corporation
15:30 to 16:00 – Coffee Break
16:00 to 17:00 – Panel #2: Personal Stories of How the Diamond Industry in the North has Impacted Individual Indigenous Lives.
Moderator: Gaeleen MacPherson – Tłı̨chǫ Nation
Panelists:
- Wally Schuman – NWT Mẻtis Nation
- Darryl Bohnet – NWT Mẻtis Nation
- Dianna Beck – Yellowknives Dene First Nation
- Violet Camsell-Blondin – Tłı̨chǫ Nation
Panel Format:
- Moderator Introduction (5 min).
- Each panelist has 5 minutes to describe themselves and/or their business (20 min).
- Moderator questions to the panel (20 min).
- Open discussion with questions from the audience (15 min).
