INSPIRING AWE
by 80%, credited to natural diamonds. Sangris was critical in negotiating 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.
ICE & DIAMONDS A SONG OF
AN ARCTIC ADVENTURE THROUGH CANADA'S NORTHWEST TERRITORIES WITH LILY JAMES, GLOBAL AMBASSADOR FOR NATURAL DIAMOND COUNCIL. By Grant Mobley
L
Lily James stood on a frozen lake under the Northern Lights in -40 degrees. Her journey to Canada’s North, into winter’s grasp, was a quest to witness the profound impact of natural diamond recovery on this land and its people. As the Natural Diamond Council global ambassador, the Emmy-nominated actress traveled to Botswana in 2022. Witnessing the transformative effect of natural diamonds on communities and environments opened her eyes to the industry’s reality. This is how James found herself in the icy expanses of Canada’s Northwest Territories — the globe’s third-largest natural diamond source. James touched down in Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories and home to half of the territory’s forty- thousand inhabitants. Excited to meet locals, James headed to B. Dene, an indigenous-owned camp nearby. Yellowknife’s lake, as big as Belgium, transforms into an expanse of ice in winter, allowing James to drive across it to get there. Once across, James met Kateri Lynn and Cody Drygeese. Lynn, Dettah’s youngest elected councilor, works at the local
diamond-cutting facility, while Drygeese helps operate the B. Dene camp. They ushered James into a sled, traveling through thick snow to B. Dene. The camp is an educational hub, immersing visitors in the Yellowknives Dene First Nation’s heritage. Upon arrival, James, welcomed by a community gathered around a fire, witnessed the “feeding the fire” ceremony led by elder Jonas Sangris. This ritual honors nature’s elements and ancestors. The ceremony, highlighted by handcrafted drums and singing, deeply moved James, underlining the bond between tradition, community, and the natural environment. As the cabin filled with the scent of fish stew, James and Sangris discussed the impact of natural diamonds on the region. Sangris shared his story as the chief of the Dene First Nation before the diamond discovery. He talked about the early 1990s when economic instability loomed. The elders’ assurance, “Don’t worry, something will come up,” preceded the discovery of diamonds by merely a year. Since 1999, the economic landscape of the Northwest Territories has surged
52 | WESCHE JEWELERS MAGAZINE
53 | WESCHE JEWELERS MAGAZINE
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