NEWS RELEASE
August 8, 2013
UBCIC Celebrates International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples by
Standing with Tsilhqot'in Nation on the shores of Teztan Biny
(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver - August 8, 2013) Tomorrow, August 9, the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs will stand with the Elders, Youth and Leadership of
the Tsilhqot'in Nation New Prosperity Federal Review Panel's site visit to
Teztan Biny (Fish Lake).
August 9 is The International Day of the World's Indigenous People as
proclaimed by the United Nations' General Assembly. The focus of this year's
International Day is "Indigenous Peoples building alliances: Honouring
treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements."
Councillor Marilyn Baptiste, Secretary-Treasurer of the Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs stated "First Nations are not opposed to development. But we want a real
voice in the determination of priorities and strategies for the use of our
lands. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples sets
out international standards for the needed relationships between Nations
states, companies like Taseko to establish long-lasting agreements or
arrangements with Indigenous Peoples built on the principle of Free, Prior and
Informed Consent."
"First Nations are watching closely," said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip,
President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. "To this point, the testimonies
and submissions to the Federal Review Panel cast a troublesome light on
Taseko's significantly deficient New Prosperity proposal. If there is federal
government approval of Taseko's New Prosperity Mine proposal it will signal to
Indigenous Peoples across Canada that their values, beliefs, and ways of living
will be trampled upon whenever the federal government deems a potential
resource development project economically significant."
Chief Bob Chamberlin, Vice-President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
concluded, "Taseko's proposal will effectively kill Teztan Biny and will have
detrimental, cumulative and long-lasting impacts on the environment, Xeni
Gwet'in and Tsilhqot'in families and communities. We urge the Panel to hold
Taseko, the Provincial and Federal governments to the standards set out
internationally but also to truly reflect on the evidence of the Tsilhqot'in
Nation."
Media inquiries:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip (250) 490-5314
Councillor Marilyn Baptiste (250) 267-1401
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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