LandKeepers News Archive
Chiefs will ‘close’ Alexis Creek open house tonight
April 02 2009 | News Articles | Williams Lake Tribune
Chiefs will ‘close’ Alexis Creek open house tonight
By Sage Birchwater – Williams Lake Tribune
April 2, 2009
The Tsilhqot’in will close the “Open House” at Alexis Creek Community Hall scheduled for April 2, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. to discuss the proposed Prosperity Project.
The Tsilhqot’in call on all supporters to come out and show their support in the Tsihlqot’in fight to protect our water and fish stocks.
TML (Taseko Mines Limited) is proposing an open-pit gold-copper mine in Tsilhqot’in Territory within the Xeni Gwet’in in Tsilhqot’in Case decision area.
It was understood from both parties the Tsilhqot’in has always been against the destruction of Fish Lake.
The Tsilhqot’in are not against development. Development must be environmentally sound and done with participation and direction of the Tsilhqot’in. Some of the proposed Tsilhqot’in projects: Biomass, Forest Range Opportunities, Memorandum of Understanding with Mineral Exploration Companies, and a Mineral, Oil, and Gas Policy Development.
The Tsilhqot’in are expected to join multiple review process with very limited resources: CEAA (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency), BCEA (B.C> Environmental Assessment, and permitting with Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources, and Ministry of Forests.
CEAA’s 60-day comment period is inadequate as the clock started on March 26, 2009, and the Tsilhqot’in have yet to receive the funding. The deadline for comments on the Environmental Impact Assessment is May 25, 2009.
The BCEAOis expecting to consult withj the Tsilhqot’in in Working Group Sessions when it was made clear that the Tsilhqot’in would not participate in this process because of past betrayals and the track record that B.C. has with rubber stamping mining projects.
There are many issues within these review processes but the Tsilhqot’in will participate with the CEAA process because they are concerned with what is going to happen to their Traditional Homelands. They will not sit and wait for mine construction to happen before having their voice heard.
The Tsilhqot’in will bring the scheduled “Open House” to a standstill, which is to occur at the Alexis Creek Community Hall on April 2, 2009 from 4 to 9 p.m. This action is scheduled to happen as a means of bringing attention to the issue. The Tsilhqot’in feel it is time to publicly express our opposition to the mine if it is going to destroy Fish Lake.
Tsilqhot’in Chief Joe Alphonse states, “If the media coverage on this issue is going to be one sided, we need to protect our interest and be prepared to up the ante. We have to be heard, we are calling for a peaceful demonstration to get our word out!” The Tsilhqot’in will not stand back and let this process happen without Tsilhqot’in consent.
This Entry is Not Tagged. Click here to Add Tags