July 19, 2005-For Immediate release
Fortune Minerals Blocked From Entering the Mount Klappan Coal Fields:
Telegraph Elders,Tlabânotîn 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 Tlabânotîn 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 Tlabânotîn 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 Tlabânotîn families states "The
Fortune Minerals project in the Tlabâne area would directly impact our
traditional lifestyle, a lifestyle weve 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 Minerals 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 nehine)
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 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lillian Moyer 250-235-3151
In strength and struggle,
ANGELA STERRITT
604-562-1028
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Native News North
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