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09 May 2011
Upper Nass, Sustuut watershed Hereditary Chiefs meet with Fortune Minerals
Fortune Minerals is in negotiation with the Tahltan, 35 km north of Gitxsan country. Like everywhere else, some people are against
any development. Fortune Minerals plans to mine 2.8 billion tonnes of potential Anthracite coal with a projected twenty year life span. Their main agenda with our Northern Chiefs is access. One of two routes they are looking at is from Lost Fox to cut across to Bell 2. Though this would be closer to the Stuart Port, they favour the Train route to T’aam Smaax (Bear Lake) then on to the port of Prince Rupert, a lesser headache to the public in spite of it being longer.
The northern Hereditary Chiefs spent the morning doing a cross cultural talk with Jim Mucklow, Manager of Environment and
Community Affairs, and Thomas R. Rinaldi, Vice President – Operations. The meeting was mainly introduced to them our social
structure and how we organize ourselves. Both men appreciated the talks given by Sim’oyget Maluulak, ‘Wii Minoosik, Xwsim Gitgigyeenix and myself ‘Wii Mukwilixw.
Their parting words were that for now they favour the track route to Bear Lake and the Hereditary Chiefs to be effected are Simoygyet ‘Nii Kyap, Geel, Miluulak, ‘Wii Kaax, ‘Wii Gyat ‘Wii Minoosik’Tsabax and Hiawas. Talks will continue with the Tahltan but in the mean time environmental work will need to be done by the Gitxsan on their lands. With that, both parties were quite happy with their initial meeting. It gives this office some logistical work they may forward to the Watersheds involved. A very good meeting.
Art Wilson
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