Det'on Cho cleans up contracts for Giant Mine jobs

A company owned by YellowknivesDene First Nation has been awarded the majority of job contracts for the Giant Mine cleanup.

It will be Det'on ChoCorporation and its partnersperforming the work.

In the past, all we have gotten is death and destruction.- Ernest Betsina, Ndilochief

These are tenders awarded by Parsons Inc., the third-party U.S. company in charge of managing the contract procurement process and overseeing the mine cleanup project.

Ndilo Chief, Ernest Betsina said he's happy to see that the YellowknivesDene Nation will be able to maximize the economic benefits for its members but he saidit's not enough for reconciliation.

Betsina said the Yellowknives Dene First Nation "would like reconciliation to be a part of the economic development."

"In the past, all we have gotten is death and destruction."

He said his membership has been asking for an apology and compensation from the federal government for the negative impacts the mine has had on Ndilo residents. In March, N.W.T. Premier Bob McLeod said the prime minister responded by saying he's forwarding the letter asking for an apology to the minister ofCrown-Indigenous relations and Northern affairs.

"My people will continue to ask for an apology and compensation."

• Prime Minister responds to N.W.T. letter on Giant Mine apology: Premier

70 to 80 jobs created

Betsina is encouraging members of YellowknivesDene to apply to Det'on Cho for a job.

All partner companies of Det'on Cho are focused on local and Indigenous hires,said PaulGruner, the president and CEO of the company.

The actual remediation project of the mine is still about three years away, said Gruner.The care and maintenance will continue throughDet'onChoand their partnerNunaLogistics Ltd.

Gruner said Det'on Cho subcontracted jobs to four of their partners: Nunaforsurface works, Proconfor underground work, Scarlet Security Services Ltd.for security, and medical services from Advanced Medical Solutions.

All partners will be working together to maximize the economic benefitfor theFirst Nation membership, said Gruner.

Det'on Chois expecting to see 70 to 80 jobs created.

"We're absolutely going to be looking at training and development and how do we engage the local workforce," he said.

"It's in everybody's best interest that we continue to focus on Giant Mine as a local project."

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