West Kitikmeot/Slave Study Funding

Over the initial five years of the Study, the Partners raised close to ten million dollars. In the original funding formula there was a three-way matching arrangement where the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories, each matched contributions from Aboriginal, Industrial/Mining and Environmental organizations and companies up to $750,000 per year for a total possible annual budget of $2.25 million.

With the creation of Nunavut, the Government of Nunavut joined the Study and the funding partnership, and the formula was changed. In the end the Government of Canada contributed just over a third of the required funds, an impressive array of 46 different Industry/Aboriginal/Environmental Organizations contributed just under a third (with Industry providing about 85% including contributions of more than one million dollars each from BHP Billiton and Diavik Diamond Mines), Government of the Northwest Territories contributed about 28% and Government of Nunavut contributed about 2%. Some 80 percent of the money was applied directly to research.

The Final Report 1996-2001 includes details of all contributions over the life of the WKSS in the Financial Information section.