Mining Weekly reports that diamond giant De Beers met with representatives of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation on Monday and discussed the possibility of diamond exploration in the First Nation's lands in northern Ontario.

De Beers stated that both the diamond miner and the First Nation were satisfied with the dialogue. De Beers Canada President Jim Gowans noted that the KI community is willing to collaborate with the diamond exploration project as long as it is performed responsibly and coordinated with the community.

De Beers Canada owns the Victor diamond mine in Ontario, as well as the Snap Lake diamond mine in the Northwest Territories.

Recent clashes between the First Nation communities and exploration companies led Ontario officials to review the province’s century-old mining law, and draft a new legislation requiring diamond exploration companies to consult with First Nation communities.