terms with mining companies to ensure the community’s maximum benefit, prioritizing local employment, local procurement, royalties for residents, special taxes, and environmental safeguards. Today, diamond mining is the predominant contributor to the region’s GDP. James returned along the ice road, eager to catch the Northern Lights. Then it happened: the famed Aurora Borealis began to streak across the sky. James watched in awe, listening as Lynn recounted ancient tales of the Northern Lights and their significance to her people. The moment connected the journey’s intent: the Northern Lights and natural diamonds both inspire awe, signify beauty, and remind us of the earth’s capacity to create phenomena. The three main diamond mines, including Gahcho Kué, are a few hundred kilometers north of Yellowknife. James took a brief flight to an ice runway to reach this remote marvel. The mine facilities offer a self-contained community for employees working two-week shifts. Environmental monitors Mason Elwood and Jarrett Vornbrock invited James to see their efforts to safeguard this extraordinary environment.
The journey included the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road — the ice road popularized by Ice Road Truckers . Funded by diamond companies, it’s the world’s longest ice road, supporting the mines’ yearly operations and providing invaluable access to local and indigenous communities. Mason and Jarrett’s dedication to environmental stewardship under harsh conditions seems heroic. They regularly monitor local wildlife and water quality and ensure minimal environmental impact from mining operations. Mason shared that natural diamonds provide incredible opportunities for locals, offering a way for the natural resources of the landscape to give back to the people. James’s journey through the Northwest Territories showcased breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and the significant economic impact of natural diamonds. This journey underscored the undeniable truth that natural diamonds, much like the Northern Lights, are awe-inspiring phenomena integral to the fabric of life in the Northwest Territories.
35 | HELLER JEWELERS MAGAZINE
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