Despite the hubbub of aboriginal voices across the country that openly opposed Taseko Mines’ (TSX:TKO) Prosperity project, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) took a different approach.
“When I see something like this, it’s [important] to let the voice of the local community speak first and have them provide their viewpoints and perspective on what they think are the critical issues facing them,” said CCAB president and CEO Clint Davis. “Under the circumstances, I think it was more appropriate for us to hold back and let the community speak.”
Prior to the federal government’s decisions to reject the proposed copper-gold mine near Williams Lake, First Nations voices across Canada joined forces to fight the project.
In addition to the five communities that form the Tsilhqot’in National Government near Prosperity, both the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and the Assembly of First Nations openly lobbied the federal government to stop the project.
Davis believed it was better to let the communities the project would affect sort the issues out themselves.
Although the CCAB has remained quiet on the issue, Davis did have some useful tips for both aboriginals and business.
First, stop arguing about who controls the land.
“I don’t think a focus on who owns the land outside of a claims process would be of benefit to anyone, because effectively, you hold up development.”
Second, traditional aboriginal practices such as living off the land are no longer sustainable.
“The fact is the entire world is heading in a different direction,” he said.
Finally, industry needs to treat First Nations like any other community and consult with them early on any project.
“To the extent that a company can sit down with the local community and map out together how this development will take place, and really try to address some of the concerns the aboriginal group has … then there’s a higher probability the project will move forward.”
Check out next week’s edition for the final installment of Business in Vancouver’s Chasing Prosperity series.