APPENDIX IX-1.8 Focus on Caribou & NCRP Closure Plan Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. Closure and Reclamation Plan – V4.0 DDMI Traditional Knowledge Panel Session #9 FOCUS ON CARIBOU Diavik Diamond Mine, NT May 13–16, 2016 George was known for his love of life. He and his beautiful wife Celine raised a large family ensuring that they could live in both the traditional and modern worlds. He provided leadership in the community formally and informally. He contributed to the publishing of a dictionary in his dialect while playing an important role in the development of a “watchmen” program that builds on traditional stewardship of traditional territories to ensure the environment is protected. Indeed George spent some of his last days reviewing the work of the TK Panel, ensuring that it was well represented by reports. George loved to laugh and make people feel good, he didn't hesitate to tease in a loving way. He will be missed throughout his community and the whole north. When George was still okay he had a lot of recommendations [for the TK Panel] so wrote everything down in October . At the end he was laughing and then he says "I hope the two mines can get together and make me a head stone out of all those rock piles." Shared by Celine Marlowe TK Panel Session #9 May 13–16, 2016 Diavik Diamond Mines (2012) Inc. Traditional Knowledge Panel Report Session #9: Focus on Caribou Diavik Diamond Mine, NT May 13–16, 2016 Facilitation Joanne Barnaby, Joanne Barnaby Consulting Natasha Thorpe, Thorpe Consulting Services (TCS) Participants Kitikmeot Inuit Association Bobby Algona, Nancy Kadlun, Doyle Algona (youth) Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation August Enzoe, Celine Marlowe, Denecho Catholique (youth) North Slave Métis Alliance Kathy Arden, Wayne Langenhan, Chloe Dragon Smith (youth) Tłı̨chǫ Government Dora Migwi, Louie Zoe, Janelle Nitsiza (youth), Peter Huskey (interpreter) Yellowknives Dene First Nation Grace Martin, Rose Betsina, Berna Martin (interpreter) Observers/Presenters/Visitors Government of the NWT Karin Clark (presenter) Environmental Monitoring Arnold Enge, Allison Rodvang (observers) Advisory Board Tłı̨chǫ Government Lands Joline Huskey (observer) Department Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. Gord Macdonald C&E Consulting Colleen English Thorpe Consulting Services Janet Murray (transcriber) Interpreting equipment provided by Pido Productions. TK Panel Session #9 May 13–16, 2016 1 As a group here, we all come together to try to express our feelings, to give back to Diavik our traditional knowledge. -- Bobby Algona We are gathered here having this discussion on the caribou we are representing. -- Dora Migwi Background The TK Panel is mandated to assist Diavik Diamond Mines (2012) Inc. (Diavik) and work with local communities in facilitating appropriate and meaningful accommodation of Traditional Knowledge (TK). The TK Panel provides guidance in environmental management and monitoring as well as in closure planning at the Diavik Diamond Mine. From 2011 through early 2013, TK Panels were assembled by the Environmental Monitoring Advisory Board (EMAB) to discuss select concerns related to the Diavik Diamond Mine. The most recent session was held at the Diavik Diamond Mine (Figure 1) from May 13–16, 2016 and was the fifth in a series of TK Panel sessions now administered under Diavik rather than EMAB, and the ninth in the total number of TK Panel sessions. Session Purpose Caribou are at the forefront of many northerners’ minds given recent declines in herd populations and, not surprisingly, discussions of caribou have been central to nearly all TK Panel sessions held to date. In response, this ninth session focused on caribou, particularly with respect to monitoring and managing caribou (and other wildlife) as a part of Diavik’s closure plan. A review of available TK related to caribou was presented, including maps of caribou-related TK produced by various Aboriginal organizations and available to the public. This session was particularly relevant given present concerns about population decline of the Bathurst caribou herd. The TK Panel drew upon previous sessions related to caribou (TK Panel #4), observations made during previous site visits, a review of available TK presented as well as an overview of the current Bathurst Caribou Range Plan and regional wildlife research and management programs provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR). Part of the session was also used to review the final closure plan for the North Country Rock Pile (NCRP) to allow the TK Panel to determine if they support the final design for the pile at closure. In keeping with the format of previous sessions, the TK Panel developed recommendations for review and consideration by Diavik and provided suggestions for future TK Panel sessions. TK Panel Session #9 May 13–16, 2016 2 Session Goals and Activities The TK Panel reviews closure plans for various areas of the mine, shares their knowledge in relation to each topic and presents recommendations to Diavik at the end of each session. In this way, they are continually increasing their understanding of the mine site and its closure challenges, while also directly influencing Diavik’s closure plans. The goals for Session 9 were to: • provide a final opportunity for input and seek support / approval on the final closure plan for the North Country Rock Pile • review a summary of existing TK of caribou that has been shared since the 1990s, prepared in response to a request from the TK Panel • learn more about the current Bathurst Caribou Range Plan and the GNWT’s wildlife research and monitoring programs • provide guidance on ways to encourage safe movement of caribou and other wildlife on/around site and how best to monitor animals throughout closure Figure 1 Diavik Diamond Mine 2015 TK Panel Session #9 May 13–16, 2016 3 The session agenda was structured around these key goals. At the outset of the session, the group reviewed and approved the proposed format and agenda. An evaluation process held at the end of the session helps to improve future sessions. During the TK Panel session, approximately 10 individuals took a Process Plant tour, as per their request, to learn more about the Processed Kimberlite deposition trial. Participants received a surface tour of the mine upon arrival to re-familiarize themselves with the site, and a more focussed field trip on May 14 included stops requested by the Panel and discussions relating to the following locations: A154/418 open pits, North Country Rock Pile (NCRP) and till pile, processed kimberlite containment (PKC) area, test pile, natural reclamation areas near the shallow bays, and the North Inlet area. Report Overview This report first outlines key themes around caribou related to closure planning discussed during the session and closes with recommendations made by the TK Panel. Appendix A includes photos from the session and field trip. Appendix B contains the session agenda while Appendix C provides a blank copy of the informed consent form that was signed by participants or observers new to the TK Panel. Session notes were reviewed and verified by the speakers and included in Appendix D including maps created by the men’s break-out group of the TK Panel related to their recommendations around caribou monitoring. Appendix E contains maps of publicly available TK of caribou shared by groups while Appendix F presents a review of caribou recommendations made by the TK Panel to-date. Appendix G contains a presentation given to the TK Panel as an overview of documented TK of caribou starting from the 1990s. Diavik provided a presentation on an overview of the closure plan, the focus for Session 9 and their response to TK Panel Session 8 recommendations on shoals, reefs and water monitoring. Diavik also presented the final closure plan for the NCRP as well as an update on processed kimberlite toxicology and the PK deposition trial (Appendix H). Finally, Diavik reported on caribou and wildlife monitoring on-site (Appendix I). The Government of the Northwest Territories gave an overview of the Bathurst Caribou Range Plan and the department’s current research and management initiatives (Appendix J). On the morning of the last day, the youth collaboratively presented the work of the TK Panel to Gord Macdonald through a presentation outlining key observations and comments as well as recommendations on caribou (Appendix K). A short presentation delivered on the next steps is included (Appendix L), followed by a summary of participant evaluations (Appendix M). TK Panel Session #9 May 13–16, 2016 4 Proceedings: Key Questions and Themes The TK Panel was tasked with exploring guiding questions during this session. The original questions proposed by the facilitators were modified with input from the TK Panel over the course of the session and were finalized as follows: 1. Do you accept the responses to your recommendations as to what can and cannot be accommodated in the NCRP final closure plan? Do you support the plan? 2. At and after closure, what can be done to support safe movement of wildlife on/around site? 3. Should certain areas be planned to attract or keep away caribou? If so, how and where? 4. How will we know if caribou are safe on site after closure? How should we monitor them? What should a monitoring program look like when: 1) Mine operations end (2023– 2025)? 2. Post-closure (2025–2030)? How? Where? When? Why? Who? What? Throughout discussions to consider these questions, the following key themes emerged throughout the session: 1. The current closure plan for the NCRP is supported, with the conditions identified in current session recommendations 2. Today and throughout closure, implementing traditional and other ways to direct caribou movement will help keep them safe.