Photo from R.A.V.E.N. Trust
Today is world water day and I am lead to think of matters close to home. Well my ancestral home that is. Today is also the date of the beginning of the Review Panel for the Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine proposal for 125 kilometers southwest of Williams Lake, BC.
Taseko Mines limited is proposing one of the largest open pit gold-copper mines (Prosperity) in Canada in an area where the Tsilhqot'in people have a proven aboriginal rights claim. This proposal includes the destruction of Fish Lake for a tailings pond for toxic waste. Fish Lake is in an area where the Tsilhqot'in have always sought peace and shelter from outside dangers. Archeological remains of settlements, burial grounds and sacred sites are all exposed to loss. Taseko promises to save the fish and put them in a new artificial lake.Taseko Mines Limited vice president Brian Battison appealed to Chamber of Commerce members last Wednesday, talking about their current Gibralter mine and the proposed Prosperity Mine, which according to BC Local News is "one of the most talked-about mining opportunities in the country: Prosperity, one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits in Canada."He also quantified the number of jobs that would be made as a direct result of the mine.
Prosperity Mine, such a wonderful title for something extracting from our natural resources. I wonder just how many Tsilhqot'in people will become prosperous from said mine. My guess is none. Tom Swanky, a non-Native research had this to say in his note "The Prosperity Road to Native Gold:"
The Tsilhqot’in are not just survivors of a long term general decline from European diseases. Or of being separated from resources and squeezed onto postage stamp reserves. Or of fractured families from residential schools. But of a specific, targeted genocide. Contemporaries estimated the death toll at 70 percent. Including famine, it may have been 90 percent. This was not the end of extermination, just the beginning.It's no surprise that Battison doesn't understand the complexities behind the installation of the mine and the removal of the lake.
The documentary "Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot'in Fight for Teztan Bay" made by Susan Smitten showcased all of the concerns that First Nations people had with the lake:
But last week Taesko Mines wrote tot the pane suggesting the film amounts to "propaganda", that questions cannot be asked of the film (even though members of the community will be there to answer questions following the film), that there is not enough time in for a 40 minute film during 6 days of hearings and that "subject matter is not appropriate for the General Hearings."
This documentary is powerful. I teared up while watching it and learned more about my ancestors and their history and how they use Fish Lake and the importance it has for ceremony and healing. I desperately want that opportunity to go back home and be able to visit this area without miners and construction people milling about. I feel that it is essential to cultural survival to keep that land intact.
The Department of Fisheries of Canada (DFO)"considers the planned development a high-risk proposal with the potential for significant adverse environmental effects."
I don't think it's merely a coincidence that World Water Day and the Review Panel for the Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine proposal fall on the same day. I for one hope that those on that panel are seeing that there is nothing prosperous for anyone with Prosperity Mine.
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This is why I'm against the existence of Western Society/Civilization and it's ideals here in the Western Hemisphere. Our people went the pain of destroying an area for the purpose of "improving" and "progressing" land... The Mayans and Aztecs literally destroyed the jungles of the Yucatan area to create the lime/mortar mix they used on the surfaces of their buildings. The lessons of environmental responsibility was learned over here, prior to people from the other side of the oceans migrating over here. Luckily, the lands affected by the Aztecs and Mayans recovered...
ReplyDeleteMining companies always talk about "all the new jobs"... jobs they fill with non-NDN people they employ prior to opening mines in NDN Country, though. The companies also claim "tribes will receive royalites/per cap payments", though these monies are never enough for a family displaced from their lands to live on. These supposed provisions offered by mining companies don't even begin to make up for the damage of the cultural genocide these mining operations actually create.
A more proper name for this mine would be Genocide Mine.
Much of Western Society just doesn't seem to understand the importance of land and the idea of a sacred place to Native people. To non-Natives, their culture and life-ways are easily transportable so the though of replacing meaningful places makes loosing one easier. Pictures become substitutes for geographic locations. They are not aware of the reciprocal relationship Indigenous people have with their homeland geography. When people try to explain this relationship to the non-Native population, they are interpreted as whiners, complainers, and obstructions to "advancement." Sadly, the Hollywood image of Native people clouds the mind of most non-Natives and these types of issues are never brought up. Western society needs to be taught the truth of Native history and what the ideas of place, sacredness, and historical trauma are. Only then will they begin to understand what the importance of these places are.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking to the video. I had never heard of the struggle for Teztan Biny.
DJ TR-ONE - Touche on Genocide Mine. There are no discussions about sharing with the NDN people, so that is not even on the table - as far as the jobs go I am sure all the out-of-work non-Native forestry people would be given preference.
ReplyDeleteBig Tootles - Thank you for your insights and interest. Good news is that the documentary is being shown at the panel :).
Great post - glad to see more people are talking about this project. It has huge ramifications also on several nearby lakes as well. I wrote about this last July and again raised the issue Jan 25 on my blog Go Green. Here is a link if you're interested: http://michellelouie.com/environment-issues/anglers-unite-on-destruction-of-fishing-lakes-in-bc
ReplyDeleteHats off to these BC natives, they have their priorities right and I truly hope that they can save this piece of land. Unfortunately not very many non natives support them. It is about time the BC govt pulled their collective heads out and opened their eye/minds to the truth.
ReplyDelete