From: Krista Robertson [mailto:krobert...@jfklaw.ca]
Sent: August-02-12 3:42 PM
To: Don Bain
Subject: FW: WRFN Media Release
Media Release
WRFN CALLS ON YUKON GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT YESAB RECOMMENDATION TO REJECT TARSIS
CLASS 3 MINING LICENSE
August 2, 2012 - Beaver Creek, YT – For immediate release: Today the White
River First Nation (WRFN) called on the Yukon Government to accept a
recommendation from YESAB to reject a Class 3 License for Tarsis Mining Corp.
(Project # 2012-0080 YESAB)
The 81 page recommendation reaches the conclusion that the proposed impacts of
their Class 3 mining license application cannot be adequately mitigated. The
report recommends that, “the project not be allowed to proceed, as it has
determined that the project will have significant adverse environmental and
socioeconomic effects in and outside the Yukon that cannot be mitigated.”
WRFN Councilor Patrick Johnny said, “WRFN fought hard to ensure that we were
heard regarding our Traditional Use and environmental concerns with the
proposed Project. Tarsis was unwilling to meaningfully engage with WRFN. Tarsis
sought to bully their way through YESAB at the expense of our history; our
ancestors; the land, water and wildlife. WRFN citizens are not opposed to
mining; we are opposed to the approach taken by Tarsis.”
WRFN has no Land Claim Agreement with Canada and Yukon and has unsurrendered
Aboriginal rights and title to the lands that Tarsis was attempting to exploit.
“WRFN has documented numerous concerns with the YESAB process and provided
these concerns to Canada and YTG, but in this case they got their
recommendation correct. WRFN has also proposed solutions to Government on how
we can work together to more appropriately manage resource development
interests together. We continue to seek a new relationship with Canada and
Yukon. We are now calling on the Premier to ensure that the right thing happens
and that this Tarsis project does not proceed”, said WRFN Chief Charles Eikland
Jr.
WRFN Councilor Patrick Johnny added, “Government and Industry have taken WRFN
Aboriginal rights and title to our Traditional Territory for granted. Canada
and Yukon have made few attempts to meaningfully engage with us outside of the
UFA Land Claims process, which WRFN rejected. We hope that the outcome of this
confrontational process will illustrate that WRFN and Government need a new
approach to development, and that we are willing to work with Government to
create more certainty for all. The way things have been done in the past is no
longer acceptable in WRFN Traditional Territory.”
-30-
For more information please contact:
Janet Vander Meer 867-862-7802
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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