Action against Fortune Minerals in northwest B.C. could give industry chills : Thunderbay IMC

Dissident native group blocks access to coal property
Action against Fortune Minerals in northwest B.C. could give industry chills

Scott Simpson
Vancouver Sun
Business BC

Friday, July 22, 2005

A dissident group of Tahltan First Nation members has thrown Fortune Minerals Ltd. a curve by blocking access to the company's Mount Klappan coal property in northwest B.C.

Fortune acquired the Klappan property, considered one of the best potential coal reserves in the province, in 2002 and is hoping to open a mine there in 2007.

But those plans hit a snag last weekend when a five-truck convoy carrying trailers and equipment for an environmental assessment project found access blocked, said Fortune vice-president Julian Kemp.

The appearance of the blockade is a potential problem for the province's new image as a mining-friendly jurisdiction.

Unresolved treaty issues have been cited since the 1980s as one of the biggest deterrents to mining investment in B.C.

Provincial and federal requirements that resource-based companies consult fairly with local aboriginals before the commencement of activity in their traditional territories have eased the threat that exploration and development projects will be derailed. Last year investors responded by pouring more money into mineral exploration than B.C. has seen in over a decade.

Kemp said the Ontario-based junior mining company took numerous measures to ensure support of the Tahltan government before proceeding -- including contracting a Tahltan-owned company to carry out the environmental work.

The chief of the local Indian band concurred, noting that 90 per cent of the environmental contractors are of "Tahltan heritage."

The blockade continues eventhough another mining company with a property in the same area, NovaGold Resources, is operating without interference.

"We have been dealing with the elected officials of the Tahltan First Nation through the Tahltan Central Council," Kemp said. "I think we have been very communicative with them. We certainly feel that we are a victim in the situation."

Kemp said that if the company doesn't get onto the property soon, it could lose its entire summer program.

"I can't speak for other companies, but there is a risk that, I guess, the province and the first nations run. If they are perceived to be a problem jurisdiction, it adds to the cost, it adds to the risks of operating in that jurisdiction, and that's something that will be taken into consideration when companies are making their decisions."

According to a news release from the blockaders, a local family with a traditional claim to the area was not consulted when Fortune was "granted tenure" to the site.

Contacts listed on the release, Oscar Dennis and Lillian Moyer, could not be reached.

The release refers to a "breakdown in Tahltan leadership" that entitles blockade participants to directly negotiate with Fortune.

Tahltan Chief Jerry Asp, a strong proponent of mining as a means to economic development for first nations, attributed the blockaders' actions to political differences with the band's elected leaders.

He said Fortune has done everything expected in terms of proper consultation with First Nations, saying the issue is further confused by the involvement of environmental groups.

He agreed that creating uncertainty in the mining investment community could be costly for B.C. "People don't understand. Money is very transient. It goes where the action is the best."

Michael McPhie, president of the Mining Association of B.C., noted that additional mining activity would benefit the regional economy.

He said the blockade may be an isolated incident but could have a local impact.

"To the extent that it would send a chill to investors, I think it's probably localized," McPhie said.

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Oscar Dennis | Email communication | July 19, 2005

Fortune Minerals Blocked From Entering the Mount Klappan Coal Fields:

Telegraph Elders,Tl'ab ânot'în Clan and Iskut First Nations Block the passage of heavy Industrial Equipment from entering the Sacred Headwaters:

Fortune Minerals plan to begin drilling for coal in the Kla-bon-a-tine Sacred Headwaters /Mount Klappan area hit a roadblock over the weekend. In a display of growing Tahltan unity in opposition to failed leadership, the Iskut First Nations, Telegraph Tahltan Elders and Tl'ab ânot'în families put up a Blockade at the junction of Hwy 37 and the Eulue Lake road in northern British Columbia on Saturday July 16, 2005. The Eulue lake road is the current access way into the Mount Klappan Coalfields.

On June 18, 2005 Fortune Minerals was given notice that their project infringed upon Tl'ab ânot'în Aboriginal Title and Rights when the company was granted tenure without honorable consultation with the family whose traditional territory the tenure is located on. Fortune mineral to date has not responded to the notice.

Oscar Dennis the spokesperson for the Tl'ab ânot'în families states "The Fortune Minerals project in the Tl'ab âne area would directly impact our traditional lifestyle, a lifestyle we've maintained for tens of thousand of years and to date we continue to use this area on a regular basis. Matter of fact a few of our campsites are set to be flooded with waste dumps. However, no one will destroy our world without first consulting with us."

The protesters felt that because of the breakdown in Tahltan leadership it would be appropriate for Fortune Minerals to engage directly with the people who would be mostly impacted by the proposed development.

On Monday July 18, Fortune Mineral's Robin Goad met briefly to inform the protesters that they will not engage with anyone other than the dully elected Tahltan officials. However, the Iskut First Nations elected officials are working with the protesters and some of the Iskut First Nations Council supported and participated in the blockade.

"We told Mr. Goad that no exploration and drilling will take place without the consent of our Elders and families. Fortune Minerals and the Crown made a major mistake by agreeing to rights in our territory without engaging with us first and we will maintain our Blockade until they begin to recognize our Rights and Title to our territory" Says Oscar Dennis.

Fortune Minerals had plans to meet with Curtis Rattray of the Tahltan Central Council, Jerry Asp of the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation and Victoria regulators on July 21, 2005 in the Klappan. The protesters maintain that this will not take place!

A spokesperson for the Telegraph Elders asked Mr. Goad whether Fortune minerals would respect Tahltan Elders Moratorium (Dena nenn Sogga neh`ine) imposed on February 25, 2005, which prohibited any further resource development until certain conditions about governance, sustainability, shared decision-making, and revenue sharing were dealt with; and his response was a flat out "no they will not"

The Telegraph Elders have been very clear. No further resource development is allowed in the Sacred Headwaters, until the conditions in our moratorium are addressed and they insist they will do whatever it takes to prevent their lands from being invaded and exploited.

For more information contact:

Oscar Dennis, 250-234-3344 odennis@yt.sympatico.ca

Lillian Moyer 250-235-3151

In strength and struggle,
ANGELA STERRITT
604-562-1028
noxmadima@yahoo.com

Canada is not a strip mine. Go First Nations!!!

I am one of the so called renagades that Fortune and Dennis Mckay have spoke of in the news media. I grew up in the white community and never spent much time in the Klappan area until recently.

I have worked in the logging and mining industries. I have seen and helped participate in the damage that they have done.

The Klappan area in my view is an area rich in resources. Like animals, the unspoilt scenery the potential to be one of the biggest tourism areas that I am sure that Europeans and Americans would love to see and pay good money for day round, camping, hunting and rafting trips.

I have spoken to a majority of the people that have been up the Klappan that have not agreed with the Blockade but have done a 180 on their opinion and have stated that what we are doing is right and there is no way that we should be letting anyone up there to damage and destroy what took millions of years to make. And will take only one generation to destroy.

I am not against economic devolopment as I have two boys to support. All I want is the development to take a slower pace so we can still be able to eat the cariboo, moose and groundhogs and what ever else my elders say is good to eat.

My last comment is, take a 100 dollar bill put it in your mouth and chew. Then tell me if you would rather eat that or would you like to eat nice fat healthy moose ribs.

What I have stated here is my opinion and I see the Klappan area as my kitchen, and in my kitchen freinds and family are welcome, but if you come into my kithcen and try to shit on my floor you will get a cast iron frying pan up side the head.

I welcome comments on this posting.

I request that you type Klappan in the subject area to prevent my putting your e-mail in the trash.

Sincerly,

Dempsey Quock

"I have worked in the logging and mining undustries. I have seen and helped participate in the damage that they have done"

"I see the Klappan area as my kitchen... if you come into my kitchen and try to shit on my floor you will get a cast iron frying pan up side the head."

Sounds as though you've already done a pretty fair job of shitting on the kitchen floor all by yourself.

September 16, 2005

Dear wtf

For you information:

I have shit on some kitchen floors. I would like to apologize to the aboriginals whose kitchens I have dirtied.

As I have stated I grew up in the white community and I picked up their bad habits. Approximately 3 years ago I finally opened my eyes and seen how my people have been and still are being treated. I decided that there has to be a better way to do things.

A child learns from copying their elders, an adult, if they have any brains and are willing to use them recognizes bad habits and changes them. An elder teaches the child and young adults.

I never had access to my elders to learn about my history, which I now have.

Until I sat down with my elders and started to learn from them I never knew anything concerning my people and their history.

Here are a few examples of what I have learned.

- I am almost 100% Tahltan
- I can trace my bloodline to Quock Nannock one of the greatest chiefs in Tahltan History
- I learned how to build a tepee from a Wet’suwet’en (Morris Town) Elder
- I have learned about some native medicine and it works
- I have learned about my people
- I have learned patience

Now if you use your imagination can you think of what I will learn today from my elders and the Wet’suwet’en chiefs that have came to the blockade to support the few “renegades”.

I still welcome comments from the uninformed and the people who have questions.

Sincerely:

Dempsey Quock

You're honest man. Thanks for what you're doing.

Thank you wtf

Due to an court injuction and my arrest on Friday I will be unable to post to this site so any comments that need to be directed to me can now be posted at this site.

http://www.tahltan.blogspot.com/

Sincerely

Dempsey Quock