(IDEX Online News) – The Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) has rejected a proposed diamond exploration project and recommended that Dunnedin Venture Inc.’s Kahuna Diamond Project be modified or abandoned, according to are report on cbc.ca.

The NIRB ruled that in its current format, the company’s exploration and sampling project near Chesterfield Inlet would cause significant public concern and likely to adversely affect the ecosystem, as well as socioeconomic concerns. Particularly, the Kivalliq Inuit Association, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Aqigiq Hunters and Trappers Organization and the Chesterfield Inlet community liaison officer said they felt they had not been fully consulted about the proposals.

Three current mineral exploration projects are already taking place in the area, and two previous projects, one of which — Shear Diamonds’ Churchill Diamond site —was abandoned before clean-up was complete. 

Mayor of Chesterfield Inlet and chairman of the local hunters and trappers organization Barnie Aggark said that the local Inuit were not against the mines, but wanted their opinions to be respected. He added that if there were too many projects at any one time there would not be enough Inuit to work at them – and it would benefit the region if explorations were staggered so that they provided potential employment for longer.

The board’s decision will be reviewed by the responsible minister.