News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

Press Release

First Nations will defend Tsilhqot'in rights, lands and waters in BC if the federal government fails to do its duty and stop the proposed Prosperity Mine — even though they fear such a stand for justice could leave them facing aggression and worse, says Xeni Gwet'in Chief Marilyn Baptiste of the Tsilhqot'in National Government.

BC'sJjunior Minister of Mines, Randy Hawes, has tried in recent days to make much of a comment by one elderly member who gave vent to her frustration by saying she would show up in her wheelchair with a shotgun if necessary to stop the mine from proceeding.

"The real question, however, is what would the mining company and its BC Government ally do if we were forced to stand up for our rights," said Chief Baptiste.

"We would be flesh and blood people standing in the way of trucks, bulldozers and an army of workers being driven by a company that is clearly desperate to start work on this project, and would be taking a stand against a provincial government that has backed the company every step of the way.

"If anyone has reason to fear aggression it is our people," said Chief Baptiste.

If Mr. Hawes and others want to get into hypothetical questions about what would happen if First Nations were forced to take a stand, then perhaps they can answer the following questions:

1.   What would Taseko Mines Ltd. do if faced with human blockades? Would it tell its trucks and bulldozers to stand down, or would it order them to try to break through?

2.   Would the BC government, send in armed RCMP to try to keep the peace or to try to make arrests and clear a path for the bulldozers?

3.   Would the BC government ask for support from Canadian Armed forces? Would the federal government agree to provide them?

Chief Baptiste stressed that all First Nations are still hoping that the federal government will do what the law and its duties and responsibilities require it to do — honour the CEAA findings and reject this mine.

"If instead it chooses this month to make a mockery of the EA process and its duty to protect First Nations rights and sides with this mining company, then sadly it would force us, with the backing of BC and national First Nations leaders, to take a stand to stop the mine from proceeding," said Chief Baptiste.

In an ideal world the company would refrain from trying to move ahead with destructive work until the TNG's two ongoing BC Supreme Court cases are decided. However, in response to questions from investment analysts on a July 6 conference call, the company stated that once it obtained all its goverrunent permits, any issues re First Nations title and rights would be "the government's problem" not the company's.

"Such comments have given us reason to fear that – despite all reason - should Taseko Mines Ltd. get a green light from the federal government, the company will try to move ahead with work. Indeed Taseko announced recently it had already hired an engineering company to allow the company to press on as quickly as possible," said Chief Baptiste.

"Given the lengths to which both the province and the company have gone to promote this mine and to minimize the objections of our First Nations, the environmental community and the CEAA review panel, we dread to think what they will do to force their way onto the land should the federal government give them the green light to do so," said Chief Baptiste.

To view a video of our lake, visit: http://www.raventrust.com/proiectstfishlaketeztanbiny/video-bluegold.html

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