TNG Demand Halt to Carlyle Commodities Exploration at Newton Gold Silver Project - Scum Lake

Courtesy of the Tsilhqot'in National Government:

The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is calling for Carlyle Commodities to halt its diamond drilling program at the Newton Gold Silver Project until a meeting is held between Tŝilhqot’in leadership and the Carlyle Board of Directors.

The Newton Gold Silver Project, located within the Tŝilhqot’in territory, is opposed by the Tŝilhqot’in Nation and caretaker communities of Yuneŝit’in Government and Xeni Gwet’in. British Columbia approved a five-year drilling permit in June 2022 and Carlyle has started to mobilize its operations, all without Tŝilhqot’in consent and in direct contravention of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Remarkably, Carlyle made no effort to meet with the Tŝilhqot’in prior to submitting its application for the drilling program and Carlyle’s Board and executive has not met to date with Tŝilhqot’in leadership, despite requests.

The Newton Gold Silver Project, previously owned by Amarc Resources Ltd., is currently in Phase 1 of its exploration program. The project is located near the proven Tŝilhqot’in Title area at Newton Mountain, beside Tsintŝanŝ (Scum Lake), in the Chilcotin region of B.C.

The Tŝilhqot’in National Government is the governing body for the Tŝilhqot’in people. The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is comprised of six communities located throughout the Tŝilhqot’in (Chilcotin) territory and is the only Nation in Canada with a court declaration of Aboriginal title (Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia)

On behalf of the Tsilhqot'in National Government -- Tribal Chair and Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Joe Alphonse, LL.D (hon.), OBC stated:

“Once again, a mining company is coming into the Tŝilhqot’in territory and is disrespecting Tŝilhqot’in rights and title. Carlyle Commodities has stated that the Newton Gold Silver Project is in a `mining friendly region’ without building any relationship with the Tŝilhqot’in Nation. Anyone invested in this project should be very cautious of the path that Carlyle is charting. It is unacceptable and in direct contravention of UNDRIP to proceed with the exploration program at the Newton Gold Silver Project.

We are calling for a halt to all exploration at this site until an accommodation that is deemed satisfactory to the Tŝilhqot’in has been reached between us and the Carlyle Board and Senior Executives.”