The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun has filed a lawsuit against the Governments of Canada and the Yukon for breaches of their Treaty, which say they say had played a role in the collapse of local salmon populations, and had directly contributed to the catastrophic failure of a heap leach facility at Victoria Gold’s Eagle Gold Mine within their territory last year – a collapse that had resulted in cyanide contamination within in the Nation’s local watershed.
The Nation says they’re seeking justice for what they’ve described as the longstanding mismanagement of mining projects within their traditional territory, and an immediate, but temporary, halt to the staking of new mineral claims on Na-Cho Nyäk Dun lands.
Additionally, The Nation has condemned the Yukon’s continued reliance on a mining regime that dates back to the Gold Rush era, pointing out that it directly conflicts with the rights and promises within their Treaty. They’ve also noted the hypocrisy of multiple territorial governments which have stated those laws would be updated, yet failed to follow through.
‘The government authorizes mining with total disregard for our Treaty and our rights, and ignores us when we demand accountability. Enough is enough. This litigation is about holding Canada and Yukon accountable to what they promised us in our Treaty and demanding real action—not just empty words—to protect our lands, our waters, and our children’s futures’ -First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Chief Dawna Hope on latest lawsuit against the Yukon and Canada
A recent ruling in the Metallic Minerals case had also affirmed the Nation’s right to co-manage the lands and resources within their traditional territory, but as Na-Cho Nyäk Dun noted, that right is consistently not respected or upheld by the federal or territorial governments unless ordered by a high court.
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