The Lower Similkameen Indian Band is considering legal and direct action

The Lower Similkameen Indian Band is considering legal and direct action after a mine tailings spill at Copper Mountain Mine on Dec. 10. The nation is also looking for an independent inquiry to determine the cause of the most recent spill before mine operations begin again, as well as an environmental review with plans for cleanup and restoration.

Chief and council assert the spill has resulted in toxic waste contamination to Wolf Creek, which flows into the Similkameen River.

“We’ve been there in person to inspect the damage to the Wolf Creek, and we are extremely disturbed by the lack of long-term plans for containment and remediation to the land and water,” said Chief Keith Crow.

“The Similkameen River System is the life and heart of the Similkameen people,” he said. “The river is critical to the exercise of our Aboriginal title and rights. We have used these areas for traditional purposes and depended on the clean water and grasslands for generations. Government and companies can’t just keep silent when they are allowing our lands and waters to be damaged and our people’s health to suffer.”

Crow said it isn’t the first spill that has entered the river system and the community is concerned about cumulative effects. The first spill from the Basin Coal mine into the Tulameen River, a tributary of the Similkameen River, occurred in August 2013. That spill resulted in 65,000 litres of coal slurry waste contaminating the river system. Coalmont Energy has since filed for bankruptcy, leaving questions about the environmental impacts of the spill unanswered. There was no consultation with the nation either from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Resources, the Ministry of Environment nor Coalmont Energy and Copper Mountain Mine on the effects of the spill, reads a press statement.

“Our intent is to ensure that these companies are held to the highest and best standards,” said Crow. “We must be involved in the restoration of these lands to their natural state for our future generations. This needs to begin now, with an immediate emergency meeting with LSIB and all related ministries to develop a plan to address the effects of the spill on our lands and our title and rights.”