The Tłı̨chǫ Government and Rio Tinto are signing a formal agreement in Behchokǫ̀, Northwest Territories, to manage the upcoming closure of the Diavik Diamond Mine. This public ceremony on February 26, 2026, marks the official transition of the mine from active production to a long-term cleanup and reclamation project.
Commercial production at the diamond mine is expected to end in March 2026 after more than 23 years of operation. As the mine moves into its decommissioning phase next month, the workforce is projected to drop from approximately 900 employees to between 200 and 300 people.
The closure agreement sets out specific rules for cleaning up the site and prioritizes hiring local and Indigenous workers for the remaining roles. Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty and Diavik COO Matt Breen will lead the event at the Behchokǫ̀ Cultural Centre to outline these community supports and environmental monitoring plans.
Ongoing work to restore the land is expected to continue through 2029, while environmental monitoring will last for many years beyond that date. The agreement aims to ensure the area is eventually returned to a state that is safe for traditional land use by the Tłı̨chǫ people.
