Tsihqot'in National Government tribal chairman Joe Alphonse didn't mince words on Thursday in expressing his community's opposition to the proposed New Prosperity open pit copper and gold mining project.
Speaking at Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency hearings in Williams Lake, Alphonse told the three-member panel reviewing Taseko's application that he's willing to bring the fight against the mine to the courtroom if necessary.
"We will stand and fight for our beliefs," he said. "We are united and we believe this process has been manipulated."
Alphonse told the panel he believes the federal government has already made up its mind to support the mine, but said the environmental review process is still important because it could provide his people with "all the ammunition to beat this in court."
Alphonse said the mine, which if approved would be located 125 km from Williams Lake, would bring nothing but trouble for his people and dismissed the economic benefits proponents have been touting during the first week of federal hearings.
Alphonse spoke about the spiritual connection First Nations people feel to the land in the region and how he believes that would be disrupted if the mine is allowed to proceed. He suggested that if a company wanted to convert a church in Williams Lake into a casino in order to generate more income and employ more people, it wouldn't go over well.
After Alphonse's presentation, he was questioned by Taseko senior vice-president of operations John McManus, who wanted to know why the First Nations group didn't bring up cultural concerns when the mine was first pitched to them in 2006.
"When did it change to 'all this mine presents the community is bad news?' When it did it change to destruction of spiritual beliefs?" McManus asked. "Because that's not where we were in 2006."
Alphonse said his recollection of the meeting was that Taseko was unwilling to discuss alternatives to the large open pit mine being proposed and wouldn't engage the First Nations group on other options like a smaller scale operation or an underground mine.
McManus and Alphonse also sparred over the consultation process, with the mining executive suggesting the company has tried to reach out to the Tsihqot'in National Government over the last five years, but have been rebuffed.
"I think the trust has been broken for a long time ago," Alphonse said in response. "If you want into a partnership with us, we have to have trust with you. . . . You've broken a lot of promises already with us and we don't want a broken relationship."
Later, UNBC professor John Meech, presenting on behalf of the Williams Lake Chamber of Commerce, told the panel that First Nations in the region could benefit if employment training is provided.
"Let's not cook the golden goose," he said. "For every day the project is delayed First Nations leaders are missing out on tens of thousands of dollars that could be flowing into their communities."
Thursday was the final day of general topic hearings at the federal review. The panel will now begin hearing topic-specific issues before beginning a tour of local First Nations communities next month.
Final arguments are set for Aug. 23 in Williams Lake at which point the panel will being preparing its report to the federal government.
Taseko's first application was rejected in 2010, but it has since revised its proposal to try to address environmental concerns.
