Public can no longer afford Industry and Government rejection of talks with
First Nations

New mining regime the only way to create certainty and real prosperity in BC

VANCOUVER, Nov. 9 /CNW/ - On Monday, November 15, FNWARM founding member Chief Marilyn Baptise and her fellow Tsilhqot'in National Government chiefs will follow up their recent victory in saving fish Lake from destruction with a court appeal to establish their Title and right.

Until all such Title is resolved in BC, where the vast majority of First Nations have never ceded their lands, the Prosperity mine decision makes it clear the mining industry and province faces two options:

1. Continue wasting money on prospecting and developing proposals that will be hard fought and under the current odds will likely not be built in the foreseeable future;
2. Work with First Nations and the province to establish clear rules and certainty by reforming the online free-entry staking systems, and creating a meaningful Environmental Assessment process with full First Nations participation.

FNWARM is calling on government and industry to respond to the offers by First Nations leaders and First Nations to come to the table to seek an agreement that will provide certainty for all and allow the vast sums that are now being wasted on pursuing and defending against unacceptable projects to be directed to developing sustainable mines that can benefit all parties while respecting the local environment and cultures.

"The Liberal leadership race will be an opportunity to see whether the government intends to support the mining industry in an adversarial approach to developing resources or actually wants to try to develop a system that works for the benefit of all," said FNWARM Chair Anne Marie Sam.

Xeni Gwet'in Chief Marilyn Baptiste said: "While we are immensely relieved and grateful that the proposed Prosperity mine was rejected, we are keenly aware and disappointed that the company, the Mining association of BC and the province have stated they intend to seek a way to resubmit this discredited project, without any mention of even talking to First Nations.

"We are also keenly aware and disappointed that our decision was accompanied by a false announcement that the Mt. Milligan project was being approved because it is a shining example how companies and industry should work with First Nations - because this is not the case," said Chief Baptiste.

FNWARM founding member and Soda Creek Chief Bev Sellars, whose Shuswap First Nation has fought side by side with the Tsilhqot'in, said: "Mt. Milligan is a case of industry and governments trying to divide and conquer First Nations and as a result the Nak'azdli, whose traditional lands will be destroyed by this mine, have not been consulted, and their environmental and social concerns have been ignored. This is not the way forward."

FNWARM Chair Anne Marie Sam, a Nak'azdli member, said: "We have been forced to go to court to appeal the BC approval and seek a judicial review of the federal approval, and these cases are ongoing  so the project is still not certain.

"We hope to meet soon with the new owner of the mine to see if we can address our concerns re the impacts of this mine on our rights, the environmental damage and social problems that is already happening  and see if there is a way forward, but this should have been done before the mine was ever approved."

FNWARM supports the efforts of BC's First Nations Leadership Council and the BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council to reform the mining regime in BC, with the goal of establishing a certainty for all parties that can withstand the test of time and will be respectful of the eventual resolving of Title and rights for all First Nations across the province.

Takla Lake First Nation Chief Dolly Abraham, who led the successful campaign to prevent the proposed Kemess North Mine from going ahead and destroying Amazay Lake, said: "One of the first steps has to be Land Use Planning and decision sharing.

"Before we can start to deal with individual proposals effectively we need Land Use Plans that clearly state where mining - and other resource extraction - can be pursued, and where it cannot - and this must take into account the accumulative effects of all projects on the environment," said Chief Abraham.

FNWARM is also calling for the abolition of the online staking free-entry access system to prevent First Nations lands and traditional territories from being overrun and to prevent fortunes being spent on developing proposals that should not be pursued and cannot be allowed to go ahead.

The environmental review process must also be reformed to include First Nations as an equal partner in determining the parameters and questions for such reviews. The failure of the current BC EA process in this regard and the other issues noted above are among the reasons why a recent study by Harvard Law School's International Human Rights Clinic found that the BC system remains stacked against First Nations and violates their rights.

For further information:

Media Inquiries:

FNWARM Chair: Anne Marie Sam : 230-649-8282

Chief Xeni Gwet'in Marilyn Baptiste (Tsilhqot'in):  250-394-7023 X202.  Cell: 250-267-1401