UBCIC Submission To Taseko Mines Ltd. Proposed Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine Project Hearings http://bit.ly/9RV9yu

By Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, as part of the Tsilhqot’in National Government’s Closing Submissions The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is honoured to have been invited by the Tsilhqot’in National Government to share in these closing comments to the Federal Review Panel hearing on Taseko Mines’ proposed Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine Project.

In earlier submissions, the UBCIC outlined how Indigenous peoples, cultures and economies can be a hidden casualty of mines which are sited on our homelands, and highlighted that the cultural and socio-economic environmental impacts on the Tsilhqot’in Nation, and other Indigenous peoples, of the Prosperity Mine project will be severe and cannot be mitigated or compensated. 

In these closing submissions, we would like to address four socio-economic issues which have been raised before this Panel: 1. Public comments made by Taseko deriding the Indigenous actions to protect the lands and territories; 2. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; 3. The suggestion that the concerns raised by Indigenous Peoples’, and particularly by the Tsilhqot’in National Government and others directly impacted by the Prosperity Mine project can be addressed by a Revenue or Benefit sharing agreements; and

4. Highlighting concerns with the Environmental Assessment process in general and the failure to take into account Indigenous Peoples’ Title, Rights and continued right to exist and thrive as unique, distinct Peoples whose cultures are tied to the lands and waters. Denigrating and unacceptable comments directed by Taseko at Indigenous Peoples’ who are fighting to protect Teztan Biny, other areas of Tsilhqot’in territory and the indigenous fishery on the Fraser River. 

Taseko has publicly derided efforts to protect Tsilhqot’in traditional lands as “activist strategies”- we would like to stress that such language is offensive and demonstrates Taseko’s complete lack of understanding of Indigenous culture and responsibility to protect our sacred lands and waters. Indigenous Peoples’ cultures are integrally linked to the lands, waters and resources of our territories. The preservation and protection of water is crucial to the survival of Indigenous Peoples and cultures;

further, water rights are essential to support hunting, trapping, fishing, the production of food, the economic development of the land, and as a part of the spiritual existence of Indigenous Peoples. It is not acceptable that these sacred responsibilities should be subject to public derision by Taseko, and highlights the inability of this proponent to appreciate, much the less respond to or mitigate the damages that their proposed project will have on the environment and Indigenous peoples who rely upon the lands and waters.