The Kiggavik Project Community Liaison Committee (CLC) held a regular meeting on May 27, 2011 at the AREVA office in Baker Lake. Newly appointed members Joedee Joedee, representing the Hunters and Trappers Organization, and Calvin Noah representing the Youth were welcomed and elections for Chair and Vice Chair were held. Casey Tulurialik, the representative for the District Education Authority, was elected as Chair. Joedee Joedee was elected as the Vice Chair. The committee was provided an update on the advancement of the environmental assessment process for the Kiggavik Project. A guidelines workshop was held by the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) in Baker Lake on March 22 and 24, 2011 and the Final Guidelines for the Kiggavik Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) were issued by NIRB on May 2, 2011. The draft EIS is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011. The following information was also presented during the CLC meeting:

• The Kiggavik camp was ready to open for the 2011 summer field season at the end of May and pre-start-up training sessions in Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods and safe handling of firearms were conducted in Baker Lake.
• Cultural awareness training program was planned for the first week of June 2011.
• Negotiations have not yet started on the Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement with the Kivalliq Inuit Association.
• IQ validation interviews have been held in six of the Kivalliq communities over the winter. The meeting with Chesterfield Inlet representatives was cancelled due to bad weather and will be rescheduled.

The next CLC meeting will take place at AREVA’s office in Baker Lake either on Wednesday, July 27 or Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 7pm. Like every meeting since the creation of the CLC in December 2006, this meeting will be open to the public. The exact date will be announced prior to the meeting.

Background:
The CLC’s mandate is to help ensure that the Baker Lake community’s views and concerns are heard and understood by AREVA, as well as to advise the company on matters related to the Kiggavik Project. Committee members are an important source of information on AREVA’s project and activities for others in Baker Lake.

A number of organizations are represented on the CLC including Baker Lake’s Hamlet Council, Elders Society, Youth Group, District Education Authority, Hunters & Trappers Organization, Health Committee, Justice Committee, business community, and Aberdeen Lake People. CLC members are appointed by their respective organizations and are not necessarily for or against AREVA’s proposed Kiggavik Project. Committee members have an obligation to pass on information and work with AREVA to build and maintain healthy company-community communications. The contributions that committee members make are very important to both the community and to AREVA. The CLC is an essential part of AREVA’s community relations program.