From: Nancy Vail
Yellowknife
Dear editor,
On the evening of Aug. 9, representatives from the Ekati Diamond Mine – with members of the NWT legislative assembly in attendance – organized a 'celebration' in Somba K'e plaza to mark the mine's 20th year anniversary.
The gathering resulted in three quarters of the park being cordoned off for the entire evening and being used to house a canopy under which was arranged many tables covered in white linen.
The entire area was walled off by steel barricades to keep pedestrians – and especially, the homeless – out.
May the mine be reminded that the land being used by them once belonged to the homeless and their families and that the condition they are in is the result of them being offered a few trinkets and booze in exchange for natural resources – a habit which apparently continues to this day.
Further, we know that the emissions from the mine plus the carbon footprint from flying people in and out of the territories is worrisome.
Families lived onsite during the days of the gold mines, thus eliminating this unnecessary pollution . Finally, It has also been asked whether the communities have benefited in terms of positive
recreational and social services for the children which, in the long run, this is supposed to be about.
May I suggest that if you have a similar gathering in the future, instead of using the park for your personal purposes, you use it to serve meals on compostable dinnerware to the homeless and with each meal you serve, you say thank you for sacrifices made and gifts given.
Frankly, some of us saw little to celebrate.