Taseko finds former chief who now supports mine
2011-11-30 21:05 ET - Street Wire
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by Mike Caswell
The Taseko Mines Ltd. case against a group of Indian blockaders heard on Wednesday video evidence from a former chief of the Alexis First Nation who expressed support for the mine. Ervin Charleyboy, who opposed an initial plan in which Taseko would have drained Fish Lake, said that the new proposal is satisfactory, and many in the community are wondering why the chiefs still oppose it in the face of high unemployment.
The court also heard that the Tsilhqotin Nation did not assert a cultural or spiritual connection to the lands of the Prosperity mine until very recently. Erin Christie, the lawyer for the Province of British Columbia, said that the Tsilhqotin Nation could have asserted cultural rights in a fairly recent four-year case against the province in which they sought aboriginal title to a large area. Instead, the Tsilhqotin only cited the value of the area around Prosperity for its hunting and fishing.
The arguments Wednesday are part of a hearing in which Taseko is seeking an injunction in the Supreme Court of British Columbia that would prevent the Tsilhqotin Nation from blocking access to its Prosperity project. A group of Indians headed by Xeni Gwetin chief Marilyn Baptiste blocked the road to the site on Nov. 12. Taseko is seeking an urgent court order against Ms. Baptiste and others, saying its work is necessary to meet deadlines for an environmental study. Ms. Baptiste, meanwhile, is arguing in the same hearing for an injunction that would prevent Taseko from performing any work until the government carries out meaningful consultation with the Tsilhqotin.
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kyuquot needs to "educate" Mr. Charleyboy, so that he can see the errors of his progressive thinking.
This was a great article, it pretty much proves the hollowness of the complaints from those who represent the "Native Industry".
Posted by Pale Face at 2011-12-01 09:43
"the Tsilhqotin Nation did not assert a cultural or spiritual connection to the lands of the Prosperity mine until very recently". No kidding, it wasnt worth anything until recently! Now that somebody else has done the work the Indians want the prize. I guess the new chief is still waiting for his new truck to be delivered and for his wife to get a $250,000 a year job she doesnt have to show up for from the company before he can support it?
Posted by BS at 2011-12-01 12:30
for what it's worth i've negotiated deals with the first nations as former pres and ceo of a canadian exploration company developing projects in ontario and in BC. there is such a disconnect between the first nations point of view on how things are and should be and the point of view on how things are and should be by the rest of the world that it is impossible to accurately describe it unless you've been there and done it.
every case is identically complex and frustrating and identically simple at the same time. or it could be.
the saddest part is that the first nations leadership is so utterly lacking in continuity that it is almost unimaginable.
i sympathize immensley with their predicament, but having said that i resent being blamed for something some white guy did a hundred years ago. that was not me and i can only be expected to tolerate so much ignorance and abuse from the first nations or anyone else in retaliation for past mistakes by whomever may have made them. none of us was there including first nations persons making such claims today.
in order for this to ever change then there must be leadership on both sides which can make a decision to come together and address this issue once and for all and that the process needs and deserves a structure to be built which can accomplish this. The mining world needs to initiate such a strategy on their side and the first nations must do the same. The political leadership has failed both sides and it needs to be take away from them both by business and by first nations and then the government should be instructed endorse what has ulitmately been decided by these parties.
until such time as this occurs there will be no end to the circus and i personally will not invest one cent in a company that has even the slightest chance of encountering such obstacles.
its time for the finger pointing and the blaming to stop.
Posted by Catbird at 2011-12-01 17:37
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