Plans to destroy Fish Lake "unacceptable": Tsilhqot'in Nation

"...the Tsilhqot'in are committed to do whatever is necessary to protect the Nation's best interest." - Tsilhqot'in National Government

The Tsilhqot'in National Government (TNG) recently issued a news release expressing its "absolute disappointment in British Columbia and Canada's decision to proceed with a BC-led Environmental Assessment (EA) process" for Taseko Mines' Prosperity Mine Project. The TNG said current plans by the company "to destroy Fish Lake are unacceptable." And that this development came as an "unwelcome surprise" to the Tsilhqot'in Nation, which now has "no confidence that the environmental and social impacts of the project will be properly assessed." The company, the TNG said, previously supported a joint-panel review process for the project. "This is nothing more than a rubber stamp to industry," Chief Ervin Charleyboy, Tribal Chairman, said. Xeni Gwetin Chief Marilyn Baptiste indicated in the release that her community "has exhausted every opportunity to work with BC, Canada [and] Taseko Mines Ltd," and that "the Tsilhqot'in are committed to do whatever is necessary to protect the Nation's best interest."