080121-08MN006-Sabina Hackett River Project Proposal ... - NIRB

Description of the Existing EnvironmentBathurst Inlet is a seasonal community, especially driven by the opening season of the BathurstInlet Lodge. This may account for the population count of zero in the 2006 census, down fromfive persons in 2001 and 18 persons between 1991 and 1996 (Statistics Canada, 2004; 2007).However, during the Hackett River community meeting, approximately nine households wereidentified in the community during summer months and an expected three households for thewinter of 2008/09.Due to the size of the community there are no school or health services or non-satellite phoneservice. An internet service was made available in the summer of 2007 with the assistance ofSabina. Electricity is sourced from personal generators and water from ice and river water. Theclosest school, RCMP station and medical services are in Cambridge Bay.The Nunavut Planning Commission (WKRLUP, 2005) notes that the people of Bathurst Inletfollow a traditional and independent way of life, only having recently joined the modernworkforce to support their traditional lifestyles. The population remains involved in theharvesting of seals on ice, inland hunting for caribou and fishing in the river mouths according toseason, prompting regular migration habits.The majority of economic activity generated comes from tourism, hunting, fishing, trapping andmineral exploration. The Bathurst Inlet Lodge is a main focus in the community and a jointventure between Bathurst Arctic Services and the community. Its operating season is over fiveweeks in June and July catering for groups of up to 25 eco-tourists per week.6.3.6.3 OmingmaktokOmingmaktok is located on Bay Chimo Harbour and was established around an abandonedHudson's Bay Company post. The community is primarily a seasonal hunting and fishing camp.The community can be accessed by chartered flights from Yellowknife and Cambridge Bay andby boat barge service during the ice free period. Travel by snowmobile is also common duringthe ice period.Similar to Bathurst Inlet, this small community recorded an official population of zero in the2006 census. This may be due to the mostly seasonal nature of the community although censusand anecdotal evidence suggests that population has still significantly decreased in recent years.Between 1991 and 1996, Omingmaktok hosted a stable population of approximately 50 people,which declined significantly in 2001 to 5 persons (Statistics Canada, 2004; 2007). A total ofeight persons from Omingmaktok attended the Hackett River community meeting in BathurstInlet in the summer of 2007.There is no employment data for the community. However, the majority of economic activitygenerated comes from tourism, hunting, fishing, trapping and mineral exploration. TheOmingmaktok Hunter and Trapper Organization operate in the community (Zinifex, 2007).The closest services for the community are in Cambridge Bay, including schools and healthservices. Phone services are available by satellite phone and electricity from portable generators.January 2008 Hackett River Project – Project Proposal Sabina Silver CorporationReport Version B.1 6–35 Rescan Environmental Services Ltd. (Proj. #833-2)