Union Of B.C. Indian Chiefs Strongly Urges Federal Rejection Of Taseko's Prosperity Mine Proposal http://bit.ly/btUltb

“Taseko Mines’ proposal does not enjoy the environmental, economic and investment certainty it needs to proceed. The federal Cabinet will have to consider its constitutional, fiduciary responsibilities and legal liabilities to the Tsilhqot’in Nation,” added Grand Chief Phillip. “It is unfathomable that the federal Cabinet would ignore their responsibilities and the dire warnings of the Federal Review Panel but if it did, the decision to approve would greatly increase the alarm, tension and mistrust in First Nation communities.

The decision to approve would demonstrate that the federal environmental assessment process is fundamentally flawed and would confirm that once third party interests are granted unfettered access to our respective territories, governments will protect the interests of industry at the appalling cost of wilfully disgracing the honour of the Crown through the deliberate violation of our Title, Rights and Treaty Rights. It will force First Nations to consider litigation and/or any means to protect their territory.”   The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs fully supports the recent independent review of mining laws in B.C. and Canada by the Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic titled Bearing the Burden: The Effects of Mining on First Nations in British Columbia. The Harvard study concluded mining laws are in contravention of international and constitutional laws, stacked against First Nations, favour industry and lack any consideration of shared decision-making, revenue-sharing or fair compensation.