"We hope they will be responsive": Tribal Chief David Luggi

"It is a paradigm shift." - Byng Giraud, Mining Association of B.C.

In a recent Prince George Citizen story by Gordon Hoekstra, Tribal Chief David Luggi of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, which represents eight First Nations in the northern interior, indicated that organizers of the B.C. First Nations Mining Summit, October 7-9, 2008, in Prince George, are hoping the mining industry and the federal and provincial governments will respond favourably to exploration and mining principles and standards developed by First Nations at the forum. The article contrasts experiences some First Nations have had with the mining sector, specifically citing the Tahltan Nation and its agreement on the Galore Creek mine, as it was then proposed by Teck Cominco and NovaGold (since mothballed), and several First Nations who successfully opposed the Kemess North expansion project, including a recent blockade erected by the Takla First Nation in response to intensive exploration in their territory. Hoekstra notes that First Nations in the northern interior of B.C. have cited frustration with the environmental assessment process, the increasing pace of exploration, and the absence of consultation involving the province's on-line mineral staking process.

Along with the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, the mining summit is being co-organized by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, Kaska Tribal Council, and the B.C. First Nations Leadership Council, the latter is an alliance of provincial First Nation political organizations involving the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. It will focus on:

• Exploring the necessary legislative, regulatory and policy reforms to ensure adequate consultation and accommodation prior to mining exploration and development;
• Reducing impacts of exploration and development on cultural and ecological values, other land uses and community priorities;
• And expanding opportunities for benefit-sharing with affected First Nations through relationships with the Crown and industry.
  

Byng Giraud, vice-president of policy and communications for the Mining Association of B.C., indicated in the article that the association will be encouraging its members to attend the mining summit and that his industry looks forward to discussing a number of key issues with First Nations.

In March, when the idea of the mining summit was first broached publicly, Tribal Chief Lugg, in an interview (no link) with Arthur Williams of the Prince George Free Press, said that the goal of First Nations was to develop a "terms of reference for engagement." He also indicated that First Nations want to get ahead of the environmental assessment process in terms of proposed projects rather than reacting to them, including establishing a way to cooperate. He elaborated that with a clearly defined starting point, "chances are you'll know early on [whether] your project is feasible, instead of spending a whole bunch of money going to the environment assessment process."

In a follow-up interview (no link) with Williams, Giraud accepted that "First Nations are taking a stronger role" in the sector. He elaborated: "The reality is you can't build a mine anywhere in the world... without community support. It is a paradigm shift. The challenge is the rules are different from place to place. If they did a conference, it would be important that all the major First Nations with mining exploration in their areas are represented. Each First Nation has a different approach to these things and all companies have different approaches. Things kept at a broad level is what we'd be able to do. I think whether it's a local community or a First Nation... develop a set of rules for industry. A road map that people can basically take to the bankers in New York will help give some certainty. Money gets more expensive, the more risk there is. Companies are operating under two sets of rules, the environmental assessment process and First Nations consultation. Whether they're separate or together, we'd like a process."