Neskonlith Indian Band says Imperial Metals ‘failed to properly protect land and water in our territory’
Rally in Vancouver on Aug 11, 2014, against Imperial Metals
from CBC / Warrior Publications
A First Nations band in British Columbia has issued an eviction notice to the company that owns the Mount Polley tailings pond, which spilled millions of cubic metres of waste in the Cariboo region.
The Neskonlith are urging Imperial Metals Corp. (TSX:III) to leave their land, which is in the Thompson Okanagan region, about 48 kilometres east of Kamloops near the village of Chase.
“We opposed the mine from the very beginning.” said Chief Judy Wilson.
Imperial Metals is surveying a 211-square-kilometre area for zinc and lead for a project called the Ruddock Creek mine, which is unrelated to the Mount Polley mine.
Chief Wilson worries about the impact a new mining project could have on land, water and salmon runs in the area.
“We don’t want them in our watershed above our communities here.”
The band issued a statement saying the group will not permit any mining development that would contaminate water or destroy salmon habitat, as elders do not want the area poisoned.
The band says it opposes the Ruddock Creek Mine because Imperial Metals failed to protect First Nations land when the Mount Polley tailings pond breached.
Imperial Metals did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Wilson says the band is prepared to block access to the proposed mine site if the company doesn’t leave immediately.
