Hello RAVENers!
To provide you an update on the Tsilhqot’in file we would like to share a victorious message from the Tsilhqot’in National Government:
“We’re happy to report one more small victory in the ongoing struggle of the Tsilhqot’in people against the proposed New Prosperity Mine: on February 4, the Federal Court ordered Taseko Mines Limited to add the Tsilhqot’in National Government and Tribal Chair Joe Alphonse as full parties to the company’s court challenge to the scathing Panel Report for its proposed mine. The Federal Court concluded that the Tsilhqot’in people are “directly affected” by this litigation and noted that the New Prosperity proposal fails to address the significant environmental and cultural impacts that prompted the Federal Government to reject the original Prosperity Mine proposal in 2010. The Federal Court judgment means that the Tsilhqot’in people will have full rights of participation in the company’s legal challenge, which the Tsilhqot’in leadership has described as without merit and as a transparent effort to distract attention from the second independent panel to condemn its unacceptable mine proposal. “
They extend their special thanks to West Coast Environmental Law that supported this motion financially.
The federal Government’s decision (via Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq) must be made by February 28, 2014. Less than a month away!
If you would like to donate to the Tsilhqot’in First Nation for their Judicial Review, you can do so at the Tsilhqot’in National Government website http://www.tsilhqotin.ca/abouttng.htm or through RAVEN if you would like to obtain a tax receipt.
Further, there is an event on February 18, 2014 7-9pm at St. John The Devine entitled: 
Indigenous Land Rights in BC Public Forum & Fundraiser for Tsilhqot’in Fish Lake Legal Defense Fund
Here are the details:
Speakers:
-Chief Joe Alphonse, Tsilhqot’in National Government
-Robert Morales, Chief Negotiator, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group
-Jay Nelson, lawyer for the Tsilhqot’in National Government
-Paul Joffe, lawyer, author and expert on international law
Moderator: Jennifer Preston, Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)
First Nations like the Tsilhqot’in and Hul’qumi’num are facing a massive push for new resource development on their lands and waters. Government and corporations claim the law is on their side. What have Canadian courts and international human rights bodies really said? What are the implications of the Tsilhqot’in case before the Supreme Court? And how can non-Aboriginal
people support the struggle for justice?
Co-hosted by Aboriginal Neighbours, Amnesty International Canada, Canadian Friends Service Committee, Council of Canadians, Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, RAVENTrust, Sierra Club BC, St. John’s Anglican Church, Tsilhqot’in National
Government
Admission by donation: Admission by donation: A request for tax-deductible donations will be made during the evening to support Tsilhqot’in participation in Taseko Mines Ltd.’s legal action against the scathing independent Panel Report of the New Prosperity Mine”
Light refreshments will be served.
There will also be a silent auction. If anyone has anything that they would like to donate an item to the Silent Auction, please email Laurie of RAVEN at laurie@raventrust.com.
Please note, the event is happening at the St. John church building (NOT their hall).
Posted by Michelle Zakrison Thursday Feb 06, 2014 11:50
Categories: Fish Lake, Taseko
