Maude Barlow and Xeni Gwet’in Councillor Roger William
The British Columbia Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson has signed an Occupant License which permits Taseko Mines Limited to proceed immediately with sixty proposed drill holes, test pits, and 24-kilometres of road construction for the Prosperity Mine near Teztan Biny/ Fish Lake.
This unlawful move by the provincial government comes just five days before a decision on this project by the federal environmental assessment body. On October 19, Council of Canadians water campaigner Meera Karunananthan wrote, “The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is reviewing the current (Taseko) proposal and will decide whether or not it warrants a review process by November 7.”
In response to Thomson’s decision, the Tsilhqot’in National Government has stated, “British Columbia recently issued approvals that authorize the proponent to extensively drill, build roads and clear trees throughout this area of such critical importance to our people. The Tsilhqot’in Nation considers the approvals issued by British Columbia unlawful because of the Province’s failure to meaningfully consult or accommodate our Nation or to justify the impacts on our proven Aboriginal rights to hunt and trap throughout those lands. …The Tsilhqot’in Nation stands united in its sacred commitment to our ancestors and to our future generations – we will honour and we will protect the lands that give us life.”
They add, “We remain confident that the Federal Government will continue to do the right thing and once again reject this clearly unacceptable mine proposal.”
Council of Canadians BC-Yukon organizer has written an action alert demanding that the provincial and federal governments reject Taseko’s revised proposal. To take action and add your voice to that demand, please go to http://canadians.org/blog/?p=11335.
The Council of Canadians continue to stand in solidarity with the Tsilhqot’in Nation which includes the Xeni Gwet’in, Tl’esqoxt’in, Yunesit’in, Tl’etinqox, Tsi Del Del, and Ulkatcho communities.
