The North Slave Métis Alliance leaders, community members, Development Corporation Métcor Inc. members and funders broke ground for a new multipurpose facility at the centre of important changes.
“The François Beaulieu II Economic Development Facility will enable NSMA to transition towards the remediation and environmental work, new critical minerals projects, and nation-building infrastructure opportunities that will connect and transform our country while creating benefits for current and future generations of the NSMA,” said Marc Whitford, President of the North Salve Métis Alliance.
With the foundation of the new economic development facility materializing and growing, Whitford also spoke of the ways the facility is grounded in Métis traditions.
Whitford spoke of a founding history deeply rooted in diverse partnerships and collaborations, that carry forward a long legacy in the North while making way for new growth into the future.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the François Beaulieu II Economic Development Facility began with an informal community gathering in the Kam Lake area of Yellowkife yesterday evening. As a Métis fiddler performed, members of the North Slave Métis Alliance prepared Northern and traditional Métis foods for the celebration.
The François Beaulieu II Economic Development facility is about creating benefits for current and future benefits for generations to come, said Whitford.
“The new facility, is being built as an energy-efficient, multifunctional building featuring a lab, offices, garage bays, accommodations, equipment storage, a kitchen, and meeting areas. The new building will also serve as the new operations base for the North Slave Métis Alliance, its customers, and its partners,” said Whitford.
The lab will bring to the North, Environmental Services that were previously being sourced to the South.
The building’s is named for François Beaulieu II, who is honoured and celebrated as the founding father of the Northwest Territories Métis.
“His life spanned a whole century that began with early European contact with the Dene and followed with the competitive years of the fur trade and ultimately witnessed the end of the Hudson Bay Company Monopoly and the birth of Canadian Confederation,” said Whitford, who describes Beaulieu as a dynamic leader, who built a solid sense of identity among the Metis of the McKenzie District,” explained Whitford, who is among the direct descendants of Beaulieu among the crowd.
He affirmed that coming to understand Beaulieu’s leadership and character throughout his life, is important to understanding how he served the Métis in the changing and challenging times the community faced together over generations.
“As one of the preeminent, Metis leaders as a trader for the fur companies and later on as an independent trader, he helped to establish the economic and social links between the people of the McKenzie River Basin, and what in his lifetime became the Dominion of Canada.”
Whitford pointed out that Beaulieu’s success and influence as a “free trader” during the fur trade of the fur monopoly were “crucial” to building an independent economic foundation for the Metis of the far North.
“As the Metis of the 21st century continue to expand out horizons beyond the diamond industry to the opportunities generated from nation building projects in the North, the development of critical minerals mined to secure Canadian supply and investments in national defence and security. I hope you can appreciate why it’s so appropriate that we name the new economic development facility after Beaulieu,” asserted Whitford.
Whitford reflected on the Burgundy Diamond Mines layoffs, announced earlier in the day, in which hundreds of workers living in the local area have been laid off, saying the new building is poised towards navigating economic adaptation and transformation.
“The NSMA is setting itself up for success as it prepares for the reduction in contracts, employment and revenue that will come with the planned closure of the diamond mines. This multi-purpose facility will enable the NSMA to transition towards environmental and remediation work. The facility will also enhance capacity for future business involvement with nation-building infrastructure projects, critical minerals, and defence. This is about creating benefits for current and future generations of the NSMA,” said Whitford.
Noah Johnson, who is the manager of Métcor Environmental Inc, also addressed the crowd, speaking of the ways the site is important to the community and it’s partners.
In a statement shared at the groundbreaking, the Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, who is the minister of Northern and Arctic AƯairs and the minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) emphasized the ways this project will help support economic growth and community relations.
“The Francois Beaulieu II Complex will enhance the North Slave Métis Alliance’s capability to contribute to resource development in innovative ways, such as through remediation support and participation in critical mineral development. Through two investments like this, our new government is supporting initiatives that generate meaningful economic benefits, support families, and help drive economic growth in the Northwest Territories, contributing to a stronger, more united Canadian economy,” said the minister.
The Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, who is the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, attended and spoke before the ceremonial groundbreaking. Minister Cleveland said that the construction was a symbol of a much bigger project around Northern economy, built in partnership with Indigenous governments, based on principles of Reconciliation sustainability and shared opportunity.
“That’s the kind of momentum, we want to see across the territory Northern ideas turning into Northern success, stories powered by collaboration and grounded in community. I want to say that this is exactly what we want to see with seed funding, where that funding is able to literally be taken, planted into the ground, comes together with, dirt from one organisation, water from another and grows into something beautiful for generations to come,” said Minister Cleveland.
Matthew Breen, CEO for Diavik Diamond Mine spoke of the company’s commitment to continue their relationship with the North Slave Métis Alliance.
“The new facility represents more than just infrastructure—it’s an investment in people, skills, and long-term opportunities, to strengthen the future of the Northwest Territories. Our partnership with the NSMA spans many years, and as we look beyond the mine’s closure, this initiative is a natural extension of that partnership,” said Breen.
The building was funded by CanNor, Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine and the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Construction remains on schedule and on budget, it is expected to open in the summer of 2026, said Whitford.
Councillor Garret Cochrane, attended on behalf of the city council and also as a member the Metis community.
“As a member of the city of Yellowknife Council and more importantly as a proud Metis it is my absolute honour to participate in this great moment of my people’s history for the ceremonial groundbreaking,” said Councillor Cochrane, who spoke of the community’[s proud history of land stewardship and Northern economy leadership.
“From trading to mining to small business and large-scale projects. We have always been at the forefront of Northern commerce and we will always be, as the innate need to prosper to create and to build to succeed, and to share in,” reflected Councillor Cochrane.
