BC 1st Nations say they will protect Fish Lake from mine

Ottawa - First Nation communities in British Columbia oppose a proposed mine which would see Tetzan Biny, otherwise known as Fish Lake, drained to become a tailing pond. They are speaking up, saying they will do whatever is necessary to protect the Lake.

Tensions are growing as the time for a decision from the Canadian government on Prosperity Mine draws closer. Taseko Mines, the company who plans to turn Fish Lake into a tailings pond, has fueled those tensions by assuring its investors the mine will go ahead as planned, in spite of a federal environmental assessment which found the mine would have negative impacts on all aspects of life, should the mine be allowed to proceed. Adding more flame to the slow burn was the decision of the BC government to give Taseko a 25 year renewable lease for the site of Prosperity Mine in June. A final decision on the fate of Prosperity Mine could be handed down as soon as next week, but the BC Assembly of First Nations is not waiting. The BC Assembly has joined with the Tsilhqot'in National Government, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and the BC First Nations Summit to send a message to Ottawa:

"The proposed Prosperity mine in BC cannot be allowed to proceed."

Representatives of the four First Nations governance bodies held a press conference in Ottawa Thursday to tell the federal government they will not permit the mine to proceed. In a press release, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs said

"No one should underestimate the expectations of First Nations that the government act honourably and reject this mine, or their resolve to defend these lands and waters in the face of unjust decisions.

Approving this mine would serve as a catalyst that would trigger a volatile and protracted confrontation and would set back the good work that is occurring between other First Nations and forward-thinking companies to develop meaningful partnerships - in the absence of resolved title and rights in BC - to look for responsible and sustainable projects. It would also undermine any effort to build better relationships with First Nations across Canada."

Chief Marilyn Baptiste, of Xeni Gwet'in stated

"There are no options open to the federal Government - it must respect the findings of significant and irreparable harm to the environment and First Nations rights and culture that were delivered in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's review Panel Report 2010."

The Toronto Sun reported Thursday that some members of the Tsilhqot’in Nation have threatened to use violence to stop the mine if necessary. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency completed an environmental assessment for the proposed mine in July. The mine, said the Agency,

"... would result in significant adverse environmental effects on: Fish and fish habitat; Navigation; Current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by First Nations and on cultural heritage; and Certain potential or established Aboriginal rights or title.

The Panel also concluded that the project, in combination with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects would result in a significant adverse cumulative effect on: Grizzly bears in the South Chilcotin region; and Fish and fish habitat."

12 environmental groups have also thrown their weight into opposing the development of Prosperity Mine, and are lobbying the government to turn down the proposal. In a press release issued Thursday, Larry Innes, Executive Director of the Canadian Boreal Initiative said

"We're calling on the federal cabinet and Prime Minister Harper to respect the federal panel report which highlights the multiple adverse effects of this proposal, including impacts on First Nations rights and title. Failure to honour these findings will not only harm the land and people of the region, they will harm relations between industry and other communities in the future by seriously undermining public confidence in the review process."

George Heyman, Executive Director of Sierra Club BC said

"It boggles my mind that we would even consider the destruction of a world-class fishing lake that is of great significance to an indigenous community, and is surrounded by cultural sites including First Nations burial grounds. We must close the legislative loopholes that allow destruction of Canada's freshwater bodies for toxic tailings."

If the mine is allowed to proceed, "... it would be the first time the government has ever overruled negative findings from a Canadian Environmental Assessment Act review." The Canadian Boreal Initiative said

"Changes to the federal Fisheries Act allow metal mining corporations to use Canadian destroy lakes in order to dispose of the millions of tones of waste rock and tailings they generate. Fish Lake would be Canada's fifth pristine natural water body authorized for destruction under this loophole if cabinet ignores the findings of the environmental assessment review panel."

Should the Prosperity be permitted to proceed, the result will be an "... open-pit gold-copper mine located 125 km southwest of Williams Lake, B.C. The proposed project also includes tailings and waste rock areas, an onsite mill, an approximately 125-km long power transmission line corridor and an access road." The Tsilhqot’in Nation took the proposed mine to court last year in an effort to stop the development. Those interested in voicing their comments about the proposed mine are urged by the British Columbia Environment Network to: write letters to your member of legislative assembly, your member of parliament, a letter to Environment Minister Jim Prentice or a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Taseko Mines said Prosperity Mine will provide British Columbia with economic and social benefits which cannot be measured in an environmental impact assessment. The Prosperity Mine is thought to be worth $3 billion. Taseko is hiring for the Prosperity Mine, and said over the 22 years the mine would be in existence, it would hire 550 employees.