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17 September 2007
Gitxsan territories
 Today’s announcement by the joint BC-Canada mining review panel recommending that a pristine, mountain lake not be used as a toxic tailings dump is a positive step forward said Gitxsan hereditary chiefs assembled at Gitanmaax Hall near Hazelton.
“It is kind of a surprise for me, I feel like crying,” said hereditary chief Nii Kyap (Rena Benson) regarding the panel’s recommendation that Northgate Mineral’s Kemess North copper-gold mine ‘not be approved as proposed’.
Hereditary chief Miluulak (Alice Jeffrey) told the gathering of more than 70 people that a recent trip to Taax Daajii (Amazay Lake) was “profoundly emotional. The land talks to you and the land talks to us, and to the people of Canada, thanks to this recommendation will hear that as we go into the future.”
The proposed mining project affects lands under the jurisdiction of Nii Kyap and Miluulak. Northgate Mineral’s proposal to development the Kemess North copper-gold, open-pit mine on the Gitxsan traditional territories 200 kilometres northeast of Hazelton included dumping 750 million tons of acid producing tailings into six-kilometre long Taax Daajii (Amazay Lake). The specially convened joint panel recommended that the project not be approved after hearing submissions including a four-day presentation by Gitxsan hereditary chiefs in Smithers in May.
“This is a just recommendation and it is a victory for everyone in BC because it is about protecting the water and finding the balance between economic development and ecological sustainability,” said Gitxsan chief negotiator Yoobx (Elmer Derrick). “It’s precedent setting in that it is the first time the Gitxsan, BC and Canada have reviewed a project like this in partnership. The recommendation of the panel will help stabilize the economy of the northwest and make sure we proceed in a sustainable manner.”
In their submission to the joint review panel in May, Gitxsan hereditary chiefs revealed parts of their adaakw (oral histories) that establishes occupation and ownership of the territory as well as aspects of their ayookw (laws) that underlie policies on water and other natural resources. These policies enable the chiefs to evaluate proposals such as the one advocated by Northgate Minerals.
“It is safe to say it is the Gitxsan oral histories and land tenure system that is protecting this lake,” said Gitxsan chiefs’ office executive director Luutkudziiwus (Gordon Sebastian). “We have a lot more to contribute with our policies and oral histories before any decision is made on how, when, or whether, this mine is going to proceed.”
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