ÌÇÐÄvlogÈë¿Ú

YELLOWKNIFE, Canada – Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine (DDMI) and the North Slave Métis Alliance (NSMA) have signed an agreement related to Diavik’s upcoming closure.

DDMI and NSMA first signed a Participation Agreement related to the operations of Diavik Diamond Mine in 2000. This closure agreement marks the continuation and strength of the ongoing partnership.

The agreement, the first of its kind in Canada signed by Rio Tinto, commits to providing employment, training and business opportunities through the coming years, provides financial investment to allow the NSMA to respond to the socio-economic impacts of Diavik’s closure, including funding for scholarship and cultural programs, and outlines the long-term relationship between the NSMA and DDMI.

Chief Operating Officer of Diavik Diamond Mine Matthew Breen said: “We are proud to stand with the North Slave Métis Alliance as we approach our upcoming closure. The Alliance presented us with a clear plan for their future after Diavik, and we are pleased to support their vision through this agreement. We are grateful for their partnership and their contributions through the life of Diavik and into closure.”

As part of the agreement, the NSMA will inherit DDMI’s award-winning copper wire recycling project to support their vision for business diversification post-Diavik operations. The agreement also provides financial support for the construction of the François Beaulieu II (FBII) Economic Development Facility in Yellowknife.

President of the North Slave Métis Alliance Marc Whitford said: “The North Slave Métis Alliance is proud to sign this agreement which advances a made-in-the-North copper-recycling program that creates real jobs, supports our economic independence, and recovers valuable critical minerals. At the same time, we are building real business capacity for the community with the construction of the FBII facility. This is more than just an agreement – it’s about creating a lasting legacy. With diamond mine closures and uncertainty in the resource sector, we are building new industries that reflect our values and will secure long-term opportunities for Métis families.”

The North Slave Métis Alliance is one of five Indigenous Governments to have signed Participation Agreements with Diavik Diamond Mine. DDMI is actively negotiating closure agreements with the other signatories, recognizing an opportunity as part of its closure planning to update these agreements for the closure phase of the project.

Diavik Diamond Mine is scheduled to end production in March 2026, with an active closure phase scheduled through 2029.

Contacts

Diavik Diamond Mine: diavik.comms@riotinto.com

North Slave Métis Alliance: general@nsma.net