Representatives of the Lutsel K'e First Nation at the Lac de Gras-Lac du Sauvage narrows.

For the tenth consecutive year, Jean Bussey of Points West Heritage Consulting Ltd. conducted archaeological investigations for BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. (BHPB) in its claim block north of Lac de Gras.   Bonnie Campbell of Points West and Noel Doctor of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation assisted with field reconnaissance. The fieldwork consisted of an archaeological inventory as well as tours of archaeological sites associated with the Ekati Diamond Mine(TM).   The first tour involved elders from Lutsel K'e, Madelaine Drybones and Noel Able, along with their interpreter, Bertha Catholique.   The second tour involved Mike Francis and Michel Paper of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.   Noel Doctor served as the interpreter. The third group involved Inuit elders, Tom Kokak and Walker Bolt, and their interpreter, Gerry Atatahak.   A variety of archaeological sites were visited during the tours, including sites at both ends of Lac de Gras - in an area known as the narrows and at the outlet of the lake on the Coppermine River.   Also visited were sites near Lac du Sauvage including one with numerous Arctic Small Tool tradition artifacts, one with four tent rings and several sites where archaeological excavation has been conducted in the past.

Yellowknives Dene First Nation and Inuit elders and their interpreters at conclusion of archaeology tour.

During the 2003 archaeological inventory, ten new archaeological sites were discovered, bringing the total number of known sites in the BHPB claim block to 198.   Stone tools or the fragments (flakes) removed during the manufacture of stone tools characterize the new sites.   The majority of the artifacts are white or grey quartz, but some chert and siltstone specimens were also discovered.   Most of the recorded sites in the claim block are associated with eskers, but sites are also found on other terrain types, usually in the vicinity of the larger lakes.   Five of the sites found in 2003 were associated with an esker known locally as the Exeter esker; numerous other sites have been found on this esker.   The other five sites were found near the Lac de Gras - Lac du Sauvage narrows, where 12 other sites have been recorded.   No development activity has been identified in the vicinity of the ten new sites, thus, there is no potential for conflict and no artifacts were collected.  

The 17 sites in the vicinity of the Lac de Gras-Lac du Sauvage narrows are likely associated with caribou hunting since the narrows represents an important caribou crossing.   A number of the sites in this area have yielded small chert tools suggestive of the Arctic Small Tool tradition. The presence of these artifacts is strongly suggestive of the narrows representing a significant location through time.   The archaeological investigations and tours were conducted under a Class 2 NWT Archaeologists Permit.