Skip to content

NEWS: Assembly of First Nations backs Fish Lake fight

National water campaigner Meera Karunananthan

National water campaigner Meera Karunananthan

The Williams Lake Tribune reports that, “Assembly of First Nations (AFN) leaders from across Canada have backed National Chief Shawn Atleo’s call for the federal cabinet to reject the Prosperity gold and copper mine proposal near Williams Lake after more than a decade of study.”

“The AFN resolution passed (at their annual general assembly) in Winnipeg describes the Prosperity mine project as a test case. The chiefs’ assembly voted to ‘advise the federal government that First Nations across Canada are watching its decision to see whether there remains any value or integrity in environmental assessments for major projects, or whether First Nations must turn to litigation and other means to assert our rights and protect our cultures.'”

As noted in a Tsilhqot’in media release, the resolution states that the Chiefs-in-Assembly:

– Fully support the efforts of the Tsilhqot’in Nation to protect their lands of profound cultural and spiritual value to its people from the proposed Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine, and will stand behind the Tsilhqot’in Nation in defence of these lands regardless of the decision made by the Federal Government.

– Call upon the Federal Government to heed the cautions of its independent Panel, demonstrate commitment to environmental protection and the cultural survival of First Nations, and reject the proposed Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine.

– Advise the Federal Government that First Nations across Canada are watching its decision to see whether there remains any value or integrity in environmental assessments for major projects, or whether First Nations must turn to litigation and other means to assert our rights and protect our cultures.

– Caution the Federal Government that approval of the proposed Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine, despite the clear warnings of its independent Panel, would demonstrate utter disregard for the survival of First Nations as distinctive cultures within Canada.

– Direct the National Chief and Assembly of First Nations to advocate on behalf of the Tsilhqot’in Nation and communicate the clear support of Chiefs-in-Assembly.

The resolution is noted at http://www.fonv.ca/news_and_events/newsfishlake. The news article is at http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_cariboo/williamslaketribune/news/99198519.html.

Informaiton on the Council of Canadians campaign to protect Fish Lake is at http://canadians.org/water/issues/TIAs/teztan-biny.html. To send a message to environment minister Jim Prentice that the Schedule 2 exemption that threatens Fish Lake must be closed, go to http://canadians.org/action/2010/schedule2.html.