January 22, 2018
Q&A with MAX Award-winner Darrell Beaulieu
From the beginning, Darrell Beaulieu’s vision has included Dene people exploring for – and benefitting from – the NWT’s resources. As a respected champion for Indigenous involvement in the natural resource industry, his work has garnered much acclaim over several decades.
Most recently he took home one of the first-ever MAX Awards for Indigenous Achievement in the NWT mineral resource industry. He accepted the award, to a standing ovation, at the NWT Geoscience Forum Gala in November.
We spoke with Darrell to get his perspective on the NWT’s bourgeoning mining sector.
How do you explain the high level of Indigenous support for mining in the NWT?
Mining has driven the NWT economy for a long time. Many of today’s leaders worked in mines and the exploration sector. When the diamond mines arrived, it was a natural evolution to get involved. We support NWT mining because we are an important part of it.
In the case of DEMCo, Dene people have gone from working for mining projects to owning one. How did that happen?
It was the logical next step. Mines generate revenues. We made the decision, in 2013, to pursue ownership. A homegrown indigenous service industry was already in place; we could import what we needed to fill the gaps. Obviously, ownership is never 100% and we’re going to need partners - but, we are now the decision makers.
What do you say to those that portray NWT Indigenous groups as the barrier to development in the NWT?
It’s one of the most-asked questions (even in China): Are the Indigenous people on side?
Dene people are not against development. We want to participate and ensure a balanced approach to our environment and our economy. That has always been the message. Georges Erasmus first said it about oil and gas. Unfortunately, all anybody remembers was the “no” to the pipeline. The message of balanced development got lost.
Nobody is talking about a full-fledged pass. I don’t think anybody supports development at all costs - Indigenous or otherwise.
Yes, we have an affinity with our lands. But, we can work and manage these lands - and get paid for it. Getting our youth ‘On the Land’ where their ancestors travelled and lived can mean promoting careers in geology and geosciences with broad applications – for exploration, mining and the environment.
So, what are the challenges?
Land claims do have to be settled. Infrastructure needs to be put in place. We need to keep growing our capacity to meet our opportunities. We did it with diamond mines; we’ll keep doing it.
You sound optimistic, why?
Today’s political leaders are pulling in the right – and the same - direction. We have seen what it takes and what the benefits are. We want the employment, business opportunities and shared revenues that mining will bring.
Increasingly, Dene people are graduating as engineers, lawyers, doctors. They want to come home and work in the North. A robust economy will provide these opportunities.