POSTSCRIPT

Canada is the world’s third largest producer of diamonds. It produces an estimated $1.5 billion worth of diamonds each year. Direct benefits accrue to the federal and territorial governments through royalties and business and personal incomeIncome: money one earns by working or by capitalizing from other people's work. taxes from diamond mines. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada estimates that over the life of the mines in the Northwest Territories, the Ekati, Diavik, and Snap Lake projects will collectively generate royalties of $1.6 billion, federal business taxes of $2.6 billion, territorial taxes of $1.3 billion, and employee and other business income taxes of $4.7 billion (2004 estimated figures). From 2000 to 2008, the territorial government’s total revenues grew from $823 million to $1.47 billion.²⁰

With such substantial revenues, it is worth noting how little financial benefit Lutsel K’e Dene was able to negotiate in their agreementAgreement: any explicit, signed document that is negotiated and includes mutual concessions or limitations placed on both sides. Examples are Negotiation AgreementsNegotiation Agreement: an early agreement in the mining process, likely to occur in the Exploration Stage, which would outline the basis of the relationship between the Aboriginal group and the mining company and how the relationship will evolve if the mine moves forward. , Exploration Cooperation Benefit Agreements, Socio-Economic Participation Agreements.. It is noted in the document “Dealing Full Force” that the community still does not realize that it can oppose a mine and leverageLeverage: strategic advantage or the power to act effectively. In negotiation, leverage is a measure of which side, at any given moment, has a greater ability to influence the other side. better results for themselves.²¹ As you will see in the next case study, capacity, knowledge, and being organized can lead to far better results.