The world's largest diamond producer, De Beers, is close to an agreement with the Dogrib tribe on hiring workers for the Snap Lake mine. The $400 million mine is located 220 kilometers northeast of Yellowknife, Canada.

The agreement will give jobs and training to tribe members during the two year construction phase. During this period 220 direct jobs will be created, 1,000 jobs including induced and indirect jobs.

Once the mine is operational in 2006, direct jobs are expected to double, while generating an additional 430 jobs in associated economic activities.

Snap Lake is planned to mine 3,000 tons of ore daily, averaging 2.17 carats of diamonds per ton.