The people of Attawapiskat held a third protest in Timmins which ended at the De Beers Canada offices in the town. Representatives from diamond miner De Beers reportedly listened to and responded to concerns raised by residents and leaders of the First Nations community.



The Daily Press quotes Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Hall: “The people in our community feel they are being treated unfairly, especially when poverty is so evident and we can see the De Beers footprint. There is a vast difference in the way people are being treated and we feel De Beers can help us with that.”



Issues raised related to inadequate housing, poor water and sewage systems, and the lack of a proper school for its 400 elementary school students.



When the De Beers Victor Diamond Mine was opened, the company entered an Impact Benefit Agreement with the community to ensure that benefits from the diamond mine would be shared.



The local residents who attended the protest said they believe that diamond giant De Beers is not holding up its end of the bargain.



According to the Daily Press, De Beers director of external and corporate communications, Tom Ormsby said the diamond company has provided the community with the benefits as part of the IBA.



Ormsby stated: “Our benefits are paid to the community. The distribution of those benefits is not done by our company to individuals in the community, but by the community itself.”



According to the De Beers diamond mining giant, the community has received $167 million in joint-venture contracts through construction and $40 million in contracts during diamond mining operations.



Ormsby and Jonathan Fowler, vice-president of sustainable development and Aboriginal affairs, both averred that diamond miner De Beers is more than willing to help in any way it can.



Fowler is stated as saying: “We’re in the same position as Attawapiskat at the moment. We don’t have a lot of money. We are looking very hard at how we would be able to assist you with your sewage and water system and try to see where we can positively help you in getting housing and finding ways to try and facilitate getting your new school as soon as possible.”



The paper reported that the local Aboriginal residents plan to take their protest to both Toronto and Ottawa in the near future.