Fight against mine could be a bloody affair

Vancouver and Ottawa — Globe and Mail Update Published on Thursday, Sep. 02, 2010 1:41PM EDT Last updated on Thursday, Sep. 02, 2010 10:19PM EDT

Ramping up pressure on the federal government native leaders on Thursday expressed fierce opposition to a proposed copper-gold mine in the British Columbia Interior and warned of violent consequences if the project is approved.

“Our people are willing and ready to defend our lands,” Tsilhqot'in Nation Chief Marilyn Baptiste said Thursday at a news conference in Ottawa. “As one of my elders had said when we were going through the panel hearings – she will be there on the road in her wheelchair. She will have her shotguns and she will not move.”

Ms. Baptiste said she and others will risk their lives to block the $800-million Prosperity project, which would destroy two lakes that hold about 90,000 rainbow trout, a food source for local bands, and replace them with an artificial lake that would have far fewer fish.

The B.C. government has already approved the project. But in July, a federal review panel ruled the mine would have “significant adverse environmental effects,” leaving the final decision up to cabinet.

“We are willing to sacrifice our lives,” Ms. Baptiste said. “I am willing to sacrifice my life for the sake of saving our lands and our future generations. Through the panel hearings, there were several people who made the same statement.”

Other native groups, including the more than 600-strong Assembly of First Nations and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, have thrown their weight behind the six-band Tsilhqot'in Nation in opposing the mine. The heated standoff is in stark contrast to two landmark deals announced last month that featured, for the first time in the province, revenue-sharing between first nations and the B.C. government on two mine projects.

Such an agreement would be on the table if the Prosperity mine were to proceed, but to date, local first nations have shown no interest in pursuing one, said Randy Hawes, B.C.'s Minister of State for Mining.

“We have made it clear that we are prepared, if the mine were to go ahead, that there would be revenue-sharing agreements,” Mr. Hawes said. “Tens of millions of dollars would flow directly to the Tsilhqot'in Nation, but so far, the answer is no.”

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