Okanagan Nation Supports Tsilhqot’in Nation & Reject Prosperity Mine

Open Letter regarding Okanagan Nation’s Support for Tsilhqot’in Nation and Call for the Federal Rejection of the Proposed Prosperity Mine

fishlakeNEWS RELEASE–(Marketwire – Oct. 21, 2010) 

RE: Open Letter regarding Okanagan Nation’s Support for Tsilhqot’in Nation and Call for the Federal Rejection of the Proposed Prosperity Mine

Dear Honourable Ministers, Premier Campbell and Cabinet:

We are writing to you with respect to Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) Resolution No. 213 which expresses support for Tsilhqot’in Nation and calls for Federal Cabinet rejection of the Proposed Prosperity Mine. This resolution was endorsed unanimously at the ONA Chief and Councils Quarterly Meeting on October 21, 2010.

We are writing to reiterate once again the Okanagan Nation takes this opportunity to express our strong unwavering support for the Tsilhqot’in Nation’s rejection of Taseko Mine Ltd’s proposed Prosperity Mine. We fully and completely support the resolute determination and absolute right of the Tsilhqot’in to protect their lands which hold profound cultural and spiritual value. We shall not stand idly by and silently witness the obliteration and destruction Teztan Biny (Fish Lake). The Okanagan Nation member Chiefs and Councils will stand in complete solidarity with the Tsilhqot’in and Northern Shuswap peoples in the defense of their homelands.

We call on you and your governments to heed the cautions of the independent environmental review panel. Further, we urge you to demonstrate your commitment to environmental protection. More importantly we advise you to uphold your fiduciary and jurisdictional responsibilities to safeguard the cultural integrity and survival of Indigenous peoples, as expressed both by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and as expressed in the Canadian Constitution of 1982. As representatives of Canada you must reject the proposed Prosperity Mine that will result in the complete eradication and destruction of the Teztan Biny (Fish Lake).

Additionally, we want to advise you that this action is being closely monitored by all Indigenous peoples in Canada as well as Internationally. There is only one acceptable and reasonable resolution, and that is the rejection of this environmental destructive proposal to establish the Taseko Mine Ltd’s proposed Prosperity Mine.

Please contact the Okanagan Nation Alliance Executive Director, Pauline Terbasket for any further information at 250.707.0095 or email: director@syilx.org.

Sincerely,

OKANAGAN NATION ALLIANCE

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip
Chairman

READ MORE: Okanagan Nation Tribal Council Resolution No. 213

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