The Tŝilhqot’in Nation fears its land could be devastated by exploratory mine work.
The BC Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of a permit allowing Taseko Mines Ltd. to clear 76 kilometres of road, make 122 drill holes, excavate 367 test pits, and lay 20 kilometres of seismic lines in a spiritually and culturally significant area.
Taseko hopes to move forward with the work in order to find a way to advance its rejected New Prosperity gold and copper mine proposal.
“The Tŝilhqot’in Nation will not stand by as Taseko Mines Ltd. moves forward with a drilling program for a mine that was rejected twice by the Federal Government and, located within an area of proven Aboriginal rights,” says Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Joe Alphonse, Tribal Chairman of the Tŝilhqot’in National Government. “The fact that this permit could have been approved in the first place is absolutely appalling. For decades now we have fought against industry running roughshod over our territory. Doing nothing is not an option at this point.”
Alphonse says his nation is now in a “spiritual war” to protect areas of immense cultural and spiritual significance and says they will be assessing all options in the fight against the permit.
It’s not clear when Taseko plans to conduct the work.
