One of the largest copper and gold deposits in Canada has been freed from three decades of conflict over whether and how it should be tapped.
What may come next for the New Prosperity tenures in B.C.'s Chilcotin is still a book that needs to be written. But the province confirmed in a Wednesday, (June 18) release that it will be working with the Tsilhqot'in National Government (TNG) to determine the process for any further mining activity at Teztan Biny (Fish Lake), as part of a deal to end an enduring dispute. In their own release, Taseko said the province has paid the company $75 million as part of the deal.
The agreement between the TNG, the B.C. government and Taseko Mines essentially prevents Taseko from doing anything other than selling its holdings in the area if a project were to be ready to go ahead, while ensuring any future mining-related activity will only occur with the consent of the T艥ilhqot鈥檌n Nation.
鈥淲e fought for decades to protect the Te岷憈an Biny area from mining proposals that threatened our T艥ilhqot鈥檌n values and way of life," said Otis Guichon, Tribal Chief of the T艥ilhqot鈥檌n National Government. "(This deal) is something that we can all be proud of."
The payment to Taseko is only part of the historic agreement. It also includes a 22.5 per cent equity interest in the New Prosperity mineral tenures, put into a trust for the future benefit of the Tsilhqot'in Nation. It will only be transferred to the Nation when and if it consents to a proposal to pursue mineral development within the tenure. Taseko maintains a majority interest with 77.5 per cent which the company can sell at any time.
In addition, Taseko has committed not to be the operator of mineral exploration or development activities at New Prosperity, nor the owner of a future mine development.Taseko has agreed it can retain ownership only up until the point of construction, should a project get to that stage.
Taseko, in its own press release, said the agreement will provide the company certainty.
鈥淭his agreement resolves a damaging and value-destructive dispute, and acknowledges Taseko鈥檚 commercial interests in the New Prosperity property and the cultural significance of the area to the T艥ilhqot鈥檌n Nation," said Taseko president and CEO Stuart McDonald.
The agreement also enables the community to turn the page, said Roger William of Xeni Gwet'in, the T艥ilhqot鈥檌n community spearheading opposition to the New Prosperity Mine proposal. He said many people, including his own son, have lived with this conflict their entire lives.
鈥淭his agreement protects our rights of consent in the Te岷憈an area. That鈥檚 huge," William said "I hold my hands up to everyone that worked hard over the past five years to achieve this historic agreement that reflects true reconciliation."
鈥淩esolution of this legal and public conflict has been a priority for this government," said Jagrup Brar, B.C. Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals in the Taseko release. "The agreement demonstrates B.C.'s commitment to reconciliation and ensuring that the interests of First Nations and mining companies can advance together."
The process to obtain consent for any mining activity in the area 鈥� located 181 km by road southwest of Williams Lake 鈥� is still to be developed. The province said it has secured a mandate to negotiate this consent-based decision-making process.
The province has also agreed to require consent from the Tsilhqot'in Nation for any mine in the Te岷憈an area requiring review under the Environmental Assessment Act.
The T艥ilhqot鈥檌n National Government (TNG) is the governing body for the T艥ilhqot鈥檌n people, comprised of six communities located throughout the region. The TNG said the new agreement lays out a land use planning process to establish clear land use direction which reflects the Tsilhqot'in's vision and goals for the area and balances a range of factors.
In addition to this agreement, the province said it also now has the necessary approvals to work with the Tsilhqot'in National Government to negotiate an agreement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
They said there is currently no specific mining project proposed for the Teztan Biny area.
