De Beers diamond mine in Canada hit by new blockade

A group of residents of a remote Canadian reserve in northern Ontario is blockading an ice road used to move heavy equipment and supplies to De Beers’ Victor diamond mine.

This is the second time in less than a week that Attawapiskat First Nation members obstruct the ice road leading to the mine.

According to APTN News, this new barricade was set up Sunday evening, forcing a convoy of several empty fuel trucks back to mine, located about 90 kilometres west of Attawapiskat.

Victor mine relies on winter roads for a bulk of its resupply program.

The previous obstruction ended Thursday with De Beers saying it had agreed to review items in the impact benefit agreement, and look at hiring and training Attawapiskat residents.

(Photo by Lyndsay Mollins Koene)