Teztan Biny (Fish Lake)

The Council of Canadians stands with the Tsilhqot'in National Government in rejecting the federal government’s reopening of a rejected proposal for the Prosperity Mine in British Columbia. The the move violates the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN-recognized right to water. Even Taseko, the company that is proposing the mine, is on record as having stated that this ‘new’ option to dispose of the mine’s toxic tailings is worse than the plan that was rejected by the federal review panel. A new panel would therefore also be a waste of public funds.

ACTION ALERT: Protect Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) against Taseko’s ‘new’ mine proposal

NEWS: Taseko gets a Kent-chosen panel to review Fish Lake mine proposal

MEDIA RELEASE: Council of Canadians condemns decision to restart Prosperity Mine approval process, November 8, 2011

Background:

Vancouver-based Taseko Mines Ltd proposed to drain Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) in order to stockpile rock waste and use Fish Creek and Little Fish Lake as tailings impoundment areas for a gold-copper mining project called Prosperity Mine. Teztan Biny is home to an estimated 85,000 rainbow trout. The Tsilhqot’in First Nations people have lived in the area for thousands of years. They oppose the environmental destruction that was proposed by Taseko Mines and were not consulted by the Province of British Columbia when it approved the project.

The draining of Teztan Biny and the dumping of toxins into Fish Creek and Little Fish Lake would very likely contaminate the Taseko River, a tributary of the Chilko River which joins the Fraser River. The Fraser River has the largest runs of sockeye salmon in the world and is an important source of food security to First Nations groups within the watershed.

The lake and its surroundings have been an important source of food security for the Tsilhqot’in Nation who has lived, fished and hunted in the area for thousands of years.

The Tsilhqot’in National Government has argued that the average household in the area lives on less than $10,000 a year. Their well-being is contingent on the ability to fish, pick berries and hunt in the area. The proposed destruction of Teztan Biny and the surrounding area would drive many in these communities to abject poverty.

The area is also sacred to the Tsilhqot’in. It contains pit houses and burial grounds that would be destroyed by the project. The Tsilhqot’in have also been passing on their cultural heritage by teaching younger generations to fish in Teztan Biny. It’s destruction would have been a severe attack on the community’s cultural integrity.

On November 2, 2010, the Harper government rejected the Prosperity MIne. The Environment Canada news release stated that, “the Prosperity mine project as proposed, near Williams Lake, cannot be granted federal authorizations to proceed due to concerns about the significant adverse environmental effects of the project.”

November 2011, the federal government is reopening the rejected proposal and Taseko, the company that is proposing the mine, is on record as having stated that this ‘new’ option to dispose of the mine’s toxic tailings is worse than the plan that was rejected by the federal review panel. A new panel would therefore also be a waste of public funds.

Actions

Rally

The Council of Canadians gathered with 60 people outside the Taseko annual shareholders meeting in Vancouver on Wednesday June 15, 2010 to protest their destruction of Fish Lake.

March 2010 Public Hearing

A public hearing was held in Williams Lake on March 22, 2010 (World Water Day). Council of Canadians National Water Campaigner Meera Karunananthan and BC-Yukon Regional Organizer Harjap Gewal attended the hearing and urged the federal review panel to reject the proposed mining project. Hundreds of people packed the venue and expressed serious concerns with the destruction of local watersheds. (see links to submission, transcript and audio below)

On March 25, 2010 John Dressler from the Williams Lake Chapter of the Council of Canadians presented to the federal Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency panel that has been holding public hearings in Williams Lake. Also presenting were Cecil Grinder of the Tl’etinqox (Anaham), Crystal Verhaeghe and Sam Zimhelt of the Esdilagh First Nation, and Loretta Williams, mining coordinator for the Tshilqot’in National Government.

Many thanks to everyone who registered or made a submission to the federal review panel.

PHOTO: Meera Karunananthan, National Water Campaigner at the Council of Canadians and Tsilhqot’in National Government mining co-ordinator Loretta Williams take part in a march and rally in Williams Lake on March 22, 2010.