Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government

Councillor Loretta Williams

Introduction My name is Loretta Williams My parents are Alice K. Williams and Danny

Cahoose My grandparents are Mabel William and Late

Eugene William I am newly elected councillor as of June 2013 I was Mining Coordinator at TNG when this

project was initially proposed I have worked on this project since 2005 and was

asked to assist with panel preparation this time around also

Introduction We welcome up to Nemiah (Xeni) and hope that you enjoy

your stay We are one of the 6 Chilcotin Communities Stone is our closest neighbour – impacted by the

transmission line and dependant on the river Anaham – our largest Tsilhqot’in community dependant on

the river (a lot history of families living in Fish Lake area) Redstone – dependant on the river Toosey – impacted by the transmission line and dependant

on the river Alexandria (West and East side of the Fraser River) –

dependant on the river and can speak on their experience with the impact from the Gibraltar Mine and lack of a relationship with TML

Introduction Over the next two weeks you will hear from our people. Some may want the New Prosperity Project and but the majority will not. To us nothing has changed from the project initially presented. In our eyes Fish Lake will still not be saved and we will still not use that area if this proposed project was to go ahead.

History

Taseko came to us in 2005 to present the project I was asked to engage in the project and be a liaison

between the company and our communities Our goal was to participate and create a picture of how this

project could benefit and impact our people We held regular meetings to explain the project to our

people My position at that point was neutral– I had even brought

TML to meetings in the communities. TNG and TML negotiated a Letter of Intent – signed in 2006 Legal Fees had to be argued on – we needed our lawyers to

work along side of us to ensure that our Title and Rights were not being impacted

History

Participated in the baseline studies

Joint Review Panel Process – negotiated this over 18 months in a series of meetings with Chiefs, Provincial

Funding pulled from TML – June 2008

History

Through out all the meetings and information sessions – our communities developed a final decision that we could not allow this project to go through

Contacted by Gibraltar Mine employees who are afraid to speak out at these hearings

Contacted by people who live in the vacinity of Gibraltar

History

Because of our declining salmon stocks, lakes are important for us to protect because this will ensure that food source for the future

We had concerns of the underground water because we see these springs near Onion Lake

We have concerns of the river being impacted We have concerns of the dust We had concerns of the boom bust cycle More money – more problems We have concerns with our people not having time to

practice their traditional activities

History

To many unknowns in this project Gibraltar – effluent release into the Fraser River – this will

need to be done later at the proposed Prosperity Project. Pebble Mine in Alaska – Proposed project in the headwaters

of two rivers Transmission Line – the communities that will be impacted

are Toosey, Canim and Alkali. It will also impact Nemiah because it will introduce hydro into an area that has to this day not been hooked up to the main grid

We have concerns of an influx of outsiders moving into our pristine homelands

Archaeology

2 pit houses on the island

Grave sites This pipe was found.

Today Participating with round two Many of the same people are involved – we told

TML in the past that we will always be here Our communities are united and you will hear

from them I have been assisting with getting the

communities ready for panel hearings – we were able to have reps from each of the community but the money is coming from a different pot of money

Today We still have the same concerns Obviously the ore cannot be moved – the pit will

be right beside Fish Lake We will not even entertain the idea of using the

area We cannot lose this area because of the spiritual

importance We have future plans for the area: destination

point for our traditional village, facility to assist in healing our people because of spiritual importance, hunting, fishing and continuing our traditional practices in the area

Key Issues Mine Site – Fish Lake

• Loss of Tsilhqot’in use of this area (hunting, fishing, berry picking and medicine gathering

• Loss of fish & fish habitat • Dust • Noise • Poisonous materials (acid rock drainage) • Heavy metal leaching • Displacement of wildlife • Drastic change in scenery • Disturbance of Tsilhqot’in cultural heritage sites • Concerns with loss of marsh lands • Disturbance of Tsilhqot’in cultural heritage sites (grave sites,

pit houses, homesteads, grazing areas and possible artifacts)

• Loss of use of the medicines on the opposite side of the valley

Key Issues

Transmission Corridor –

• Loss of Tsilhqot’in use of this area • Access for non- Tsilhqot’in hunters & fishers • Hydro introduced into an area that hasn’t

been connected to the main grid • Disturbance of Tsilhqot’in cultural heritage

sites • Competition of hunting with non-natives

Key Issues

Access Road

• Increase in traffic • Wildlife mortality • Livestock mortality • Increase in traffic accidents • Increase in dust

We do not want to see this….

In the place of this…

‘Open your arms to change but do not give up your values’

We are not against development – we encourage it

Tsilhqot’in Framework Agreement Bio-mass negotiations but in the project was turned down

Sigurdson’s Mill Memorandum of Understanding with Exploration Companies

Mining Policy Tsil?os Park

You will hear of more development partnerships as you go to each commuity

Please consider what this proposed mine will do to our people – listen with your heart