The Tŝilhqot’in Nation has reached a historic agreement with the Province and Taseko Mines Limited (Taseko) that resolves the long-standing conflict at Teẑtan Biny (Fish Lake) by requiring the consent of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation for any mining activity in the area.
The Teẑtan Biny Gagaghut’i (Teẑtan Biny Agreement) establishes binding legal commitments to undertake consent-based decision-making processes for any mining activity at Teẑtan Biny.
In particular, the Tŝilhqot’in Nation and Taseko have reached an agreement under which no mineral exploration or mine development can occur on the New Prosperity mineral tenures without the free, prior informed consent of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation. Additionally, the Province and the Tŝilhqot’in Nation have entered an agreement that requires the consent of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation for any mine in the Teẑtan Area that is a reviewable project under the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) to proceed. The Province is seeking Orders in Council to prescribe this agreement under s. 7 of the EAA and to authorize negotiations with the Tŝilhqot’in Nation to set out the process for how this requirement for Tŝilhqot’in Nation consent would be addressed in any potential environmental assessment process.
Teẑtan Biny and Nabas (the surrounding area) is a place of profound spiritual and cultural importance for the Tŝilhqot’in people. This historic agreement is the culmination of three decades of resistance by Tŝilhqot’in leaders, elders, members and allies to protect Teẑtan Biny and Nabas from a massive open-pit copper-gold mine proposed by Taseko. Unwavering Tŝilhqot’in opposition contributed to the rejection of both the Prosperity and New Prosperity Mine proposals by the Government of Canada in 2010 and 2014, respectively, and a court injunction preventing Taseko from carrying out an extensive drilling program as approved by the Province in 2017.
The Agreement also establishes a land use planning process for the area declared by the Tŝilhqot’in Nation as Dasiqox Nexwagwezʔan (“There for Us”) on Oct. 4, 2014. The process will aim to establish clear land use direction that reflects the Tŝilhqot’in Nation’s vision and goals for Dasiqox Nexwagwezʔan, protects the ecological, cultural and economic sustainability of the area, and balances other interests of the Province, non-Tŝilhqot’in residents, neighbours, stakeholders and others in a positive way. A shared goal of Dasiqox Nexwagwezʔan is to express Tŝilhqot’in Aboriginal rights and empower Tŝilhqot’in laws, governance, and management systems.
The path forward also includes the termination of all litigation related to the proposed New Prosperity mine. Taseko has agreed not to undertake any further exploration or mine development on the New Prosperity mineral tenures. Any further mineral exploration and development undertaken by other proponents in the future will require Tŝilhqot’in consent, consistent with the agreement between Taseko Mines Limited and Tŝilhqot’in Nation.
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).
We fought for decades to protect the Teẑtan Biny area from mining proposals that threatened our Tŝilhqot’in values and way of life. The Teẑtan Biny Gagaghut’i is something that we can all be proud of. Our rights of free, prior informed consent are protected at Teẑtan Biny. To our members, our elders, our past leadership, our allies, First Nations across BC and Canada, and everyone that has supported us over the years, nexwechanalhyagh (we thank you).”
— Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Otis Guichon, Tribal Chief, Tŝilhqot’in National Government
The proposed Teẑtan Biny Agreement can be viewed here
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