Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver – The First Nations Leadership Council is extremely pleased that the Kemess North Review Panel did the right thing today by recommending Northgate Minerals’ unsustainable mine application not be approved by either the federal or provincial governments. We call on both governments to respect the Panel’s major recommendation not to proceed with the project.
“The Panel did the right thing in this instance. However, federal- provincial environmental assessment processes continue to fall far short of First Nations expectations. First Nations must be fully and directly involved whenever a proposal has the potential to impact their aboriginal title and rights and their communities,” said Grand Chief Edward John, a member of the First Nations Summit political executive and First Nations Leadership Council.
“The local First Nations who fought both the process and the project went through hell,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and member of the First Nations Leadership Council.