News

Tahltan Win, Mining Company Loses: B.C. Court rejects Fortune Minerals’ request to extend injunction against road blockade

November 26, 2005: Tahltan Territory/Iskut – The B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an application by Ontario-based mining company Fortune Minerals to extend a court injunction preventing the blocking of an access road in northwest B.C. The decision is a victory for 15 members of the Tahltan and Iskut First Nations arrested in September after blocking the road to protest inappropriate rates of resource development in their territory.

“Our people are being bombarded with mining and coalbed methane proposals,” said Bertha Nole (Louie), a director of the Tahltan Central Council. “Hopefully, Fortune Minerals, Shell Canada and others wanting to destroy the Sacred Headwaters will learn that we will never give up protecting our heritage.”

Along with rejecting Fortune’s request to extend the injunction, Justice Bauman will make Fortune pay for legal costs incurred by the arrestees.

The contested area—known as the Sacred Headwaters—comprises the shared birthplace of three of B.C.’s major rivers: the Skeena, the Nass, and the Stikine. Fortune Minerals has plans to develop an open-pit coal mine in the area.

“Our people have been in the Sacred Headwaters for millennia. This area is sacred to us because it is where we do our cultural and traditional activities,” said Marie Quock, the newly elected Chief of the Iskut First Nation. “It is where our children learn our culture.”

There is growing resistance to proposed mining and coalbed methane projects in northern B.C. On October 30, over 200 First Nations people gathered in Terrace to show their support for the Tahltan arrestees. Those attending issued a declaration stating future development will only proceed with First Nations’ free, prior and informed consent.

“Our people are not anti-development,” said Rhoda Quock, “All we want to do is slow the pace of development and ensure only sustainable projects that account for our long-term interests go forward.”

“The Telegraph (Tahltan) Elders have been very clear,” said Lillian Moyer, Tahltan Band Councilor and Tahltan Elders Society President. “They will do whatever it takes to prevent their lands from being invaded and exploited.”

For more information contact:
Rhoda Quock: (250) 234-3023
Marie Quock:(250) 234-3331
Lillian Moyer: (250) 771-5604