Northern Leadership Development Program (NLDP)

The Stories

• Shannon Coleman• Jeff Fraser

Who are we?

• Hilary LeRoy-Gauthier– Academic Lead, NLDP– Instructor, School of Business and Leadership

• Karen Horn– Logistics Coordinator, NLDP– Continuing Education Program Coordinator

Aurora College

Northwest Territories

• Population: 41,467 people• Aboriginal Population:

“The Mines”

• Three main diamond mines:• Since 1996, the NWT’s diamond mines have provided

over 16,000 person years of employment – over 4,400 to Aboriginal residents and have surpassed $5 billion in investment with northern and Aboriginal businesses.

• Producing 15% of the world’s rough diamonds.– Ekati– Diavik– Snap Lake

Diavik Diamond Mine

– 300 Km northeast of Yellowknife– Mining three diamond-bearing ore bodies using a

combination of open pit and underground mining methods.

– 2 million tonnes annually.– 800 workers, half are Aboriginal.– Rio Tinto 60%, Harry Winston 40%

Ekati Diamond Mine

• Ekati– Located 200 km south of the arctic circle– NWT’s first diamond mine.– Newly owned by Harry Winston Diamonds.– 1400 people employed– 3% of world’s diamond supply

Snap Lake Mine

• Owned by De Beers (first one outside of South Africa).

• Located 220 km northeast of Yellowknife• First entirely underground diamond mine in

Canada.

History of NLDP

• Diavik, in partnership with SAIT, started an Aboriginal Development Program in 2003.

• Focus was industry-based, transferable leadership skills training.

• Diavik had a commitment to hire 40% aboriginal.

• The target populations are TliCho/Dogrib Dene First Nation