The discovery of 370 diamonds in Mushkegowuk by a mining company has Attawapiskat abuzz about the possibility of a mine being established nearby.

At one site, KWG Resources Inc. drilled through ice into Kyle Lake about 100 miles from Attawapiskat, and found 230 diamonds.

“The figures released say it’s a good prospect. But it’ll probably take another several years before we are sure enough,” said Don Fadyen, director of KWG and consultant responsible for geophysical operations.

Fadyen added that further exploration is needed to see the feasibility of spending more money on the project and how rich the deposits are before a mine is established.

KWG and its subsidary Spider Resources Inc. are responsible for the exploration portion of a joint venture with Ashton Mining of Canada Ltd. Ashton is responsible for the testing and evaluation of core and other samples.

The three companies have already spent $3.3 million during three years of exploration in northern Ontario.

Chief Ignace Gull of the Attawapiskat First Nation said his community wants to work with the company, but added, “the final say will come from the people of Attawapiskat”

Said Gull, “We’re trying to have some sort of understanding with the companies that our First Nation wants to have a say in it, with consultation.”

In response to the mining exploration, Attawapiskat established a Mining Issues Committee to look into issues of mining and keep track of what’s been going on with the exploration.

“We’ve had good communication with the mining companies,” said Reg Louttit, the committee’s chair.

As part of the committee’s consultation with the companies, they have visited the site of the drilling and have had some local people working and providing services at the drilling sites.

Louttit said part of the committee’s work also includes working with the mining companies regarding the possible disturbance of burial grounds and traditional activities by First Nations. The committee will also be gathering information and may visit other companies to see the effects of mining in other Native communities.

The Chief and committee hope this project will bring economic benefits to the community if a mine is ever established.

“The key thing is that the First Nation should take advantage of any mining in our territory,” said Chief Gull. “A lot of times when we want to build this community, we look at government funding. We should start to look at revenue-sharing in land resources.”

As an example, Chief Gull pointed to the fact that since the exploration began three years ago, local people have gotten some seasonal employment.

Fadyen said he doesn’t anticipate “an unusual level of difficulty” with Native peoples. ‘Their concerns are listened to, and we’re taking a careful and conservative position on the whole thing,”he said.

Fadyen stressed that the Attawapiskat First Nation was informed of activities from the beginning and continues to be informed.

The three companies involved have a block of about 1,000 mining claims comprising 541,000 acres in the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation territory.