Save a Lake, Save a Culture
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 17 February 2016 10:45
- Written by editor
Protect Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) and the headwaters of the Fraser River.
“Our ancestors and elders have passed the responsibility to protect our lands and way of life on to us. It is not possible for us to agree to the destruction of the land that sustains us.” Marilyn Baptiste, Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Councillor and Former Chief
The Tsilhqot’in National Government (TNG) is back in court to save their lake, their culture and an entire pristine sub-alpine ecosystem; your help is so important!
Taseko Mines Ltd has filed two separate judicial reviews arising from the rejection of the New Prosperity Mine back in 2014 — the first seeks to set aside the scathing report of the independent federal environmental review panel, and the second judicial review seeks to set aside the federal government’s rejection of the project.
No donation is too small to help stop Taseko’s latest legal tactics. We can not continue to let fresh water, salmon runs, animal habitat and our human rights be destroyed by this open pit gold-copper mine.
"The latest legal action is a desperate attempt by a desperate company to distract everyone from the facts. The project is so fundamentally flawed that even the former federal Conservative government rejected the Project twice in four years." —Chief Joe Alphonse, Tribal Chair for the Tsilhqot’in National Government
Taseko is stalling — it has brought a series of preliminary motions to delay and increase costs of the litigation. To date, Taseko has lost virtually every motion that it has brought.
2016 will tell the tale. The Tsilhqot’in are in Federal Court this week to present all three preliminary motions. The two judicial reviews will be heard one after another by the same judge, hopefully in the summer or fall of 2016. Funds are needed now to finance the legal research, preparation and argument writing. The goal is to raise $150,000 in additional funding in order for the Tsilhqot’in to be able to participate at full strength in two concurrent proceedings.
There is a lot at stake. It is critical to demonstrate that environmental assessments are substantial, and that companies like Taseko cannot overturn the results of a comprehensive environmental review and the efforts of First Nations, concerned citizens and environmental organizations, simply by pouring its resources into litigation and outspending other parties until they get the result that they want. No must mean no.
Thanks to RAVEN donors, we are a giant step closer to stopping the threat to this pristine and sacred mountain lake for a second and hopefully final time. The Tsilhqot’in Nation has very limited resources to take on a mining company in court, so every donation can make a substantial difference.
Together, we can – and will – protect Teztan Biny once and for all. Please stand with the Tsilhqot’in as we put reconciliation into action.
We appreciate your support in this campaign.
Susan Smitten, Executive Director
RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values & Environmental Needs
Become a monthly donor and reliable ally of First Nations and their critical legal challenges! You will join a vital inner circle of RAVEN’s helping to protect the land, water, and securing a livable future for all of our descendants. All contributions will receive year-end tax receipts.
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