What began as a grassroots initiative in rural B.C. to block a Vancouver company from building its $814 million mine near Williams Lake has garnered attention at the national level.
Assembly of First Nations national chief Shawn Atleo spoke out on Thursday against Taseko Mines Ltd.’s (TSX:TKO) proposed Prosperity mine and the harm it would bring to a B.C. lake.
Atleo said, “The Teztan Biny – or Fish Lake – has sustained the six member First Nation communities of the Tsilhqot’n Nation for generations. The proposed mine will not bring prosperity to First Nations in the region and could instead devastate their communities and their ways of life.”
The Tsilhqot’in First Nation and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs spoke out against the mine during a May federal review hearing in Williams Lake.
In July, the review panel said Prosperity would have significant environmental affects if built (See "Federal panel says proposed mine a detriment to environment " – BIV Daily, July 5) including the destruction of Fish Lake, which would be drained to create a tailings pond.
In an interview with BIV, Taseko president and CEO Russ Hallbauer said the fight over the mine has not been an easy one (See “Building Prosperity” – issue 1080, July 6-12).
Ottawa is expected to hand down a decision on the mine next week.