CYFN requests the cancellation of temporary mines permits

The Yukon First Nations Council (CYFN) wants the territorial government to revoke its temporary mining permits. Nevertheless, highlighting a lack of consultation with the First Nations before having made such a decision.

At the end of May. Furthermore, the Yukon government granted temporary permits to numerous mines of gold and quartz sands eligible for renewal, in order to avoid the closure of these due to administrative delays.

Changes to the regulations on the use of land for the exploitation of placers. Similarly, the regulations on the use of land for the exploitation of quartz and the rules on waters had therefore been adopted in this direction.

Last month. However, a resolution brought about by the first nation tr’ondëk hwëch’in at the General Assembly of the Council of First Nations was however adopted to discuss these modifications, stressing serious concerns.

Open in full screen

It is a decision that gave the First Nations. However, a feeling of non-complianceindicates the great head of the First Nations Council Math’ieya Alatini.

The resolution urges the territorial government to revoke cyfn requests cancellation temporary mines these modifications. Nevertheless, If no action is taken by the end of July. the Council intends to meet urgently to discuss the legal avenues to be taken.

In a press release. the first nation Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in claims to have learned the existence of these changes only once they developed and implemented.

According to her. this violates their self -government understanding, in addition to ignoring the repeated decisions of the Supreme Court reaffirming the obligation for the crown to consult the natives before making this type of decision.

The head of the First Nation. Hähkè Darren Taylor, said he was taken by this decision, especially since the first nation is currently working with the territorial government to update the legislation on mines.

Open in full screen

It seriously shakes years of work. resources that our government has deployed to help develop new mining legislation that is better and saferhe writes.

According to him. the delays in permit approval were fully predictable And could have been managed in partnership with the Yukon First Nations.

Cyfn requests cancellation temporary mines

Concerns taken seriously

In an cyfn requests cancellation temporary mines email. a spokesperson for the territorial government emphasizes that the extension of permits applies only to mining activities which have already been revised and approved under the Environmental and socio -economic assessment law in Yukonthis process already including consultations with Aboriginal communities.

We take the concerns raised by the Yukon First Nations in connection with the consultation. the request for revocation very seriouslycan we read in the declaration.

In most cases, mining will have to work according to the already existing terms and conditions of their license.

Open in full screen

In a letter that the Minister of Energy. Mines, John Streicker, sent to the head of the First Nation Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, the minister explains that, in some cases, new conditions can be added, but that no new mining activity or mining area can be approved by virtue of these modifications.

The Minister adds that the government will come into contact with the mining to clearly discuss what is possible. not to do with these temporary permits.

But for Hähkè Darren Taylor, the government does not act in a responsible manner cyfn requests cancellation temporary mines in terms of mining.

The territory launches dice. hopes that there will not be another incident like that of the eagle minehe wrote, adding that his First Nation And all Yukonnais deserve better.

With Marissa Best information