Tsilhqot'in National Government (TNG) announced a historic agreement which resolves the long-standing conflict over Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) on June 5.
The agreement between the TNG, the B.C. government, and Taseko Mines will require the consent of TNG for any mining activity in the area, located 181 km southwest of Williams Lake.
“This agreement protects our rights of consent in the Teẑtan Area. That’s huge. For over three decades, we’ve had conflict in the Teẑtan area," said Nits'il?in (Chief) Roger William of Xeni Gwet'in, the community which led the opposition to the New Prosperity Mine proposed for the area. William said many people in that community, including his own son, have had this conflict in the area for their entire lives.
This agreement enables the community and its people to turn the page, he 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," said William, thanking both the province and Taseko Mines for helping make the agreement possible.
Calling the agreement the Teztan Biny Gagaghut'i (Teztan Biny Agreement), it includes "binding legal commitments" said the nation in their release.
Consent-based decision-making processes would have to be done for any mining activity at Teztan Biny.
The agreement means no mineral exploration or mine development will be undertaken on the New Prosperity mineral tenures without "free prior informed consent of the Tsilhqot'in Nation."
The province has also agreed to require consent from the Tsilhqot'in Nation for any mine in the Teztan area requiring review under the Environmental Assessment Act.
How exactly this process will work still has to be finalized, as the province works through the details and determines an environmental assessment process which takes this into account.
"Teẑtan Biny and Nabas (the surrounding area) is a place of profound spiritual and cultural importance for the Tŝilhqot’in people," states the TNG release, noting the 30 years of resistance to Taseko's proposed New Prosperity Mine, an open-pit copper-gold mine.
The nation said the new agreement lays out a land use planning process for the area in order to establish clear land use direction which reflects the Tsilhqot'in's vision and goals for the area and balances a range of factors.
Not only does the agreement aim to balance goals around sustainability, non-Tsilhqot'in residents interests, but also to empower Tsilhqot'in laws and governance.
The agreement will also end the legal battle between the Tsilhqot'in Nation and Taseko.
The Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) is the governing body for the Tŝilhqot’in people. The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is comprised of six communities located throughout the Tŝilhqot’in (Chilcotin) region.
“We fought for decades to protect the Teẑtan Biny area from mining proposals that threatened our Tŝilhqot’in values and way of life. The Teẑtan Biny Gagaghut’i is something that we can all be proud of," stated Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Otis Guichon, Tribal Chief, Tŝilhqot’in National Government.
"After a generation of conflict, I am grateful that we can move forward as Tŝilhqot’in in a positive way and put our energy and attention into our own priorities as a nation,” stated Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Lennon Solomon, Yuneŝit’in (previously known as Stoney).
