Takla Lake objects to Kemess mine project

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The Takla Lake First Nation and the Bear Lake Kaska Dene say they have "neither been consulted nor accommodated" regarding a mine that Northgate Exploration Ltd. proposes to operate in their traditional territory. They have served formal notice to the environmental assessment office in Victoria that they object to the Kemess North copper/gold project going ahead, and they have informed Northgate.

Chief Janet West of Takla Lake, Stellat'en First Nation Chief Patrick Michell and Carrier Sekani Tribal Council Chief Harry Pierre all told Raven's Eye essentially that "consultation" insofar as Northgate is concerned means the company initiates and goes ahead with exploration and development in the region and informs the bands after the fact. They say there has been no recognition on the part of Northgate of their constitutionally protected Aboriginal rights.

They all said they are worried about the environmental effects of mining, particularly mine tailings going into Duncan Lake.

Pierre also mentioned 14 trappers in the region, who he said were "shafted" by Northgate, which he said paid them only $1,000 for the year to sacrifice their traplines. He said if they had been able to trap they could have made $6,000 to $7,000 a season.

"Six times 20 years is what they should pay."

Unemployment and marginalization of First Nation people were other key issues. West also pointed out that in her community alone there were 265 employable people but 80 per cent were unemployed.

For these reasons, West said, "We plan to challenge Northgate Exploration Ltd. in the proposed development of the copper and gold deposits within our territory."

Northgate president Terry Lyons said the agreement with the trappers was signed "for more than $1,000," but he would not state the amount. All trappers signed together and signed willingly, he said.

West admits mining officials flew into Takla Lake Sept. 27 to show a video to chief and council, but according to her they did not want to meet the whole community at that time.

She also said, and it was confirmed by Northgate, that First Nations delegates flew to the operating Kemess South mine on Oct. 21 to meet with mine officials. Northgate paid to bring them in.

According to West, at a meeting in Prince George Nov. 12 that included Northgate, the Ministry of the Environment and Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the First Nations, the Takla and Bear Lake people delivered the notice outlining their objections.

"Everybody just looked," West said about mine officials' reaction.

Other First Nation representatives present, according to West, were Carrier Tribal Chief Harry Pierre, the Northwest Tribal Treaty Co-chair Justa Monk, President Tom Patrick of the Fort Connolly (Bear Lake) band and Elders.

West said the Elders accompanied her when she presented the notice to Anne Currie, project assessment director in the provincial Environmental Assessment Office. Currie was told Takla Lake "will not be participating at this time."

West said they got a letter in return the next day, assuring them the mine studies were at a preliminary stage. If the mine gets approval, it is expected to operate until 2019.

The pre-feasibililty study indicates there is four million ounces of gold and 1.4 billion pounds of copper at the Kemess North site.

The company is now proceeding with a feasibility study, expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2004, which includes engineering design and capital cost estimates.

Pierre said they want Northgate to put the project on hold "at least five years" so that a proper environmental assessment can be done.

Lyons insists the company has had "regular meetings and exhaustive meetings" and has made every attempt to engage the First Nations in a dialogue about environmental issues, as well as employment and job training and related hot buttons. He added that 12 per cent of their workforce at the Kemess South mine are First Nation people "but the drawback (prventing the number being higher) is the lack of education."

Northgate also gave Raven's Eye additional dates and places in the area under discussion where they have held meetings on the proposal, beginning last July, and they say other First Nations expressed interest in seeing jobs come into the area, especially since the downturn in timber operations. Their talks with the government began in August regarding environmental assessment,

Northgate is, however, very touchy about the word "consultation," and attempts to put the word into a legal context where Lyons said they "don't want to go." Lyons referred to consultation as a "landlord-tenant" agreement between the government and the First Nations, and said it is up to those parties to work it out.

Northgate says they have had talks with not only Takla Lake, but the Gitxsan, the Tsaykeh Dene and the Kwadacha First Nation, who like Takla Lake are also members of the Northwest Tribal Treaty Nations.

Northgate's project manager Dave Hendricks described the meetings they have had with those Aboriginal groups as "very good" and "productive." He explained they have had discussions about how to facilitate education and training so more band members will qualify for good-paying jobs in highly technical mine occupations.

Hendricks also suggested that there are competing land claims among several First Nations in the region and told us, "Five groups have claimed exclusivity."

Hendricks said the Nov. 12 meeting was the first meeting in the environmental assessment process, and it had two purposes: to "inform them what we're doing," and to discuss "how we can co-operate" so all parties will benefit. He said when Takla walked out so did the Tsaykeh Dene, but the Kwadacha and Gitxsan representatives stayed.