02 Sep FIRST NATIONS UNITED IN DEMANDING PROSPERITY MINE PROPOSAL BE REJECTED (Canada Newswire)
OTTAWA, Sept. 2 /CNW/ – National, regional and local BC First Nations Chiefs today delivered a clear and unequivocal message to the federal government at the Ottawa National Press: The proposed Prosperity mine in BC cannot be allowed to proceed.
If the federal government – whose decision could be announced as early as Sept. 10 – abandons its duty to reject this project, First Nations across BC and Canada will unite to defend against the project proceeding.
Tsilhqot’in National Government chiefs, whose members’ traditional lands would be impacted and whose sacred waters at Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) would be turned into a toxic tailing pond by the proposed mine, were today joined by the BC Assembly of First Nations’ Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould, Union of BC Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and BC First Nations Summit Grand Chief Ed John at a news conference in Ottawa.
“There are no options open to the federal Government – it must respect the findings of significant and irreparable harm to the environment and First Nations rights and culture that were delivered in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s review Panel Report 2010,” said Chief Marilyn Baptiste, of Xeni Gwet’in.
“The CEAA report leaves the government legally, constitutionally and morally bound to reject this proposal,” said Chief Ivor D. Myers, of the Yunesit’in Government. “Every community member expressed their opposition to the mine in the panel hearings and we as Chiefs have an inherent sacred duty to protect the lands that we survive off of and our sacred burial grounds that would be desecrated.”…Go to article.