The evidence from independent and government experts against the proposed New Prosperity Mine proves the Tsilhqot'in Nation is fully justified in its total opposition to the proposed Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) proposal.
By Hannah Ellman
“The tar sands are taking, and we need to give back. Our giving back is our sacrifice, to stand in the rain and walk.”—Sue Deranger, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) elder
In the past 20 years in Canada, over 600 mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, cousins, aunts, and best friends have gone missing. That’s six hundred lives that have suddenly, mysteriously ended – no note, no motive, sometimes hardly even a clue, leaving behind questions, uncelebrated birthdays, motherless children, heartbroken partners, and emptiness. 600 Indigenous women have gone missing or been murdered, and often it seems as though nobody even cares.
The Federal Review Panel for the proposed New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine has announced that the public hearing to receive commentary on the project plans will begin in Williams Lake, B.C. on July 22, 2013, and will be completed within approximately 30 days.
The Union of British Colombia Chiefs have responded to the announcement of the review showing their unity in opposition to the New Prosperity Mine and their commitment to its rejection.
UBCIC reports:
“This proposed mine is within the Tsilhqot’in claim area and has already been denied once by the Minister of Environment. This is precedent setting and we will not back down,” said Chief Joe Alphonse, Tribal Chairman of the Tsilhqot’in National Government. “Our own experience with this company, Taseko Mines Ltd., should inspire First Nations to stand up for your land, not cave in to industry and to express that development has to be on our terms - we need a meaningful say on our land and bad projects should not proceed in an area as sensitive and culturally important as Teztan Biny.”
“The Tsilhqot’in Nation has demonstrated extreme patience – we have said we are not opposed to economic development, but that this is the wrong project, in the wrong place and it cannot be approved,” stated Chief Roger William of Xeni Gwet’in “We will share with the Panel our unchangeable values and express our deep concerns of the threat to Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) and the contamination of our lakes and streams. We firmly believe that like the last Panel, this review will demonstrate the extremely high risk that such a mine poses in such a sacred place.”
BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould remarked “We all want opportunities for economic development but not at all costs. Our culture and lands are vitally critical to the health and well-being of our communities.”
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, said “This bad project is one of the first to be forced through the now gutted federal environmental review process borne out of the Harper Government’ omnibus bills C-38 and C-45. If this review fails to come to the same conclusion as the last one, then we’ll know that the changes to the EA process are indeed about approving disastrous and unscrupulous projects over the objections of First Nations and the general public and at the great expense to the environment.”
Robert Phillips, member of the Political Executive of the First Nations Summit, stated “This is also a test case of the federal government’s commitment to First Nations Title, Rights and Treaty Rights. If spending 20 years in court proving our rights means nothing at the end of the day, then we only see conflict on the ground.”
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The following information, shared by the Federal Review Panel staff, explains how to participate in the hearing:
The Public Hearing
All hearing sessions are open to members of the public wishing to observe the proceedings. The primary purpose of the hearing is for the Panel to receive the information it requires to complete its assessment of the environmental effects of the project. The Panel will hold public hearing sessions as follows:
General hearing sessions will provide an opportunity for registered interested parties and the public to present their overall views on the project and its potential environmental effects. The general sessions will be held in Williams Lake starting on July 22, 2013.
Topic-Specific hearing sessions will allow interested parties and experts who possess specialized knowledge to present technical information relevant to the environmental assessment of the project. Topic-Specific sessions will be held on topics such as: geology and hydrogeology, aquatic environment, terrestrial environment and human environment. These sessions will be held in Williams Lake, starting July 26, 2013.
Community hearing sessions will be held in selected Aboriginal communities to allow community members to express to the Panel their views and present information and issues of importance to them in an informal setting. These sessions are expected to take place in Xeni Gwet'in, Tsi Del Del (Alexis Creek Band), Yunesit'in (Stone Band), Tl'esqox (Toosey Band), Tl'etinqox (Anaham Band), Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Band) and Esketemc (Alkali Lake Band), starting August 6, 2013.
A Closing Remarks session will be held for interested parties to summarize their overall conclusions to the Panel. This session will be held in Williams Lake, starting the week of August 19, 2013.
How to Participate
The Panel will conduct the hearing in accordance with the Public Hearing Procedures, issued in February 2013, which provide an outline of how the various hearing sessions will unfold and how the public may participate.
For the General and Community sessions, participants may make an oral presentation or file a written submission or both make an oral presentation and file a written submission. At the Topic-Specific sessions, oral presentations must be accompanied by a written submission.
Participants who wish to make an oral presentation to the Panel at any of the hearing sessions are asked to register and file any written submissions with the Panel secretariat at least 7 days in advance of the day on which they plan to present. Registration dates are as follows:
Type of Hearing Session/ Dates Register and File Submissions
General hearing sessions
Will begin July 22, 2013 As of July 15, 2013
Topic-Specific hearing sessions
Will begin July 26, 2013 As of July 19, 2013
Community hearing sessions
Will begin August 6, 2013 As of July 30, 2013
Closing Remarks session
Will begin the week of August 19, 2013 Date to be determined
The Panel will soon provide further details on the hearing schedule, including exact dates, times and locations.
To register, file a submission for the hearing sessions and schedule a presentation, contact:
Livain Michaud, Panel Manager
New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine Project – Federal Review Panel
160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor, Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: 613-948-1359 / 1-866-582-1884
NewProsperityReview@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
Following the close of the public hearing, the Panel will submit its report to the federal Minister of the Environment according to the terms of reference.
The sufficiency determination letter and the Hearing Procedures are available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, registry number 63928.
June 20, 2013, Tsilhqot’in Territory, B.C: The Tsilhqot’in National Government responded to today’s announcement that Federal Review Panel Hearings for the New Prosperity Mine proposal will commence in 30 days, amidst continued controversy over Taseko Mines Ltd.’s refusal to provide critical information directly requested by the Panel.
On December 11, 2012, northern Ontario Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence began a hunger strike after months of calls and letter-writing, to pressure the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper and the Governor General David Johnston to “initiate immediate discussions and the development of action plans to address treaty issues with First Nations across Canada.”
Her protest is a call to action in support of the rights of First Nations Peoples and a demand that the Canadian government honor the treaty rights and Indigenous rights of First Nations.
By Febna Caven
“In a gentle way you can shake the world”--Mahatma Gandhi
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are headquartered on Massachusett land, in Cambridge, MA, and we thank the past, current, and future Indigenous stewards of this territory.
