Another setback for Inuvialuit

The Canadian Senate has voted 40 to 35 against any further consideration of efforts by an aboriginal group to amend the boundaries of a proposed park covering ground believed to be prospective for nickel deposits near the northern community of Palautuk, N.W.T.

The Inuvialuit are seeking only a minor adjustment — 2.5% of the proposed park’s land mass — and have already given up 29% of their territory to three separate parks. Parks Canada has refused all pleas to redraw the boundaries, even though all other signatories of the Tuktut Nogait National park agreement are willing to accommodate the Inuvialuit’s request.

The Inuvialuit and partner Darnley Bay Resources (DBL-V) are exploring for nickel deposits on claims covering one of North America’s largest untested geophysical anomalies. Darnley Bay’s efforts are also backed by Falconbridge (FL-T), which holds an option to earn a stake in the project.

Aboriginal Senators accused their colleagues and Parks Canada of being insensitive to the Inuvialuit’s efforts to attain economic self-sufficiency. The Inuvialuit are now examining potential legal remedies.