The Fight for Fish Lake (Teztan Biny) - Round Two: New Prosperity MIne

One of RAVEN’s first projects was supporting the Tsilhqot’in National Government and Xeni Gwet’in First Nation in their legal action against the proposed – and ill-named – Prosperity Mine. The project that Taseko Mines Ltd. wanted to push through would have destroyed the lake and filled the area with toxic waste. The lake is sacred to the Tsilhqot’in and Xeni Gwet’in First Nation and is part of a pristine watershed that runs to the Fraser River.

RAVEN raised funds – with the generous support of Friends of the Nemaiah Valley, Donner Canadian Foundation, Small Change Fund and Global Greengrants – to produce the short film Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot’in Fight for Teztan Biny. The film gave voice to the Tsilhqot’in’s unanimous opposition to the mine and was shown to the federal environmental review panel at the public hearings in Williams Lake, BC (which we believe to be a Canadian first – to have a documentary shown as part of a federal environmental review).


We celebrated with the Tsilhqot’in when the CEAA panel issued its final report. Based on the overwhelming evidence brought forward during public hearings, the independent Panel concluded that mine would have “cumulative high and irreversible impacts” in a number of areas, including Tsilhqot'in people and culture, that the false “Prosperity Lake” could not begin to meet DFO's requirements for “no net loss”, that the impacts on blue-listed (endangered) grizzly bears would also be cumulative and irreversible, and that navigation under the Navigable Waters Protection Act would be impossible.

The Panel also clearly described what would be at stake for the Tsilhqot'in people: "The Panel has determined that the loss of Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) and Nabas areas for current use activities, ceremonies, teaching, and cultural and spiritual practices would be irreversible, of high magnitude and have a long term effect on the Tsilhqot'in" [Report, p. 203].  The Panel confirmed that "the island in Teztan Biny (Fish Lake), which would be destroyed by the mine waste storage area, is a place of spiritual power and healing for the Tsilhqot'in."

On November 2, 2010, then-Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced that cabinet had rejected the mine! In a news release, the Environment Minister stated, "...the significant adverse environmental effects of the Prosperity project cannot be justified as it is currently proposed."  

WHEN IS A WIN NOT A WIN - ROUND TWO OF THE FIGHT FOR FISH LAKE
aka The Tsilhqot'in Nation versus The New Prosperity Mine

Unfortunately, the celebration was a temporary one.  Just a few months after the first proposal was given a thumb's down, Taseko Mines Ltd. resubmitted a second plan to get at the gold under Teztan BIny.  This time, according to the company, it would not have to drain the lake.  However, the second proposal which the company dubbed "New Prosperity" is not new at all.  You can read in detail on our Issues of Concern page why this second attempt is flawed, but the short answer is that is was part of the original plan and was rejected by both Taseko and the CEAA panel as worse than the option it ended up putting forward for full review.  In November 2011, the federal government agreed to let the second proposal go to a full environmental review panel hearing. 

This issue is making news now around the world.  Earth Focus, a program on LinkTV.org, chose it as the focus for an episode on social justice.  The Fight for Fish Lake is also part of a larger program on Canada's Rush for Gold. 

The Tsilhqot'in Nation is now engaged with a team of experts and lawyers to figure out what is needed and by when.  Most certainly the band will need to raise funds to cover more expert reports, science-based evidence, and legal arguments to put the best case forward when the CEAA panel convenes this year.  Those costs are not covered by the government.  Although the federal government inititates the process, it does not pay for the work that must be done. That falls to the Tsilhqot'in alone.  But one expert report - such as a hydrogeology report examining the impacts on water - can cost $20,000.   Without those reports, the band has no facts upon which it can show that Taseko's plan is deeply flawed and ecologically permanently destructive. 

So RAVEN is once again launching into action.  We are working to get the word out, and raise the funds needed to support Round Two.  Please consider donating today!