Thanks to the generous support of RAVEN donors and the countless hours from hundreds of community members, supporters and the public, the Tsilhqot’in Nation celebrated a huge success on October 31, 2013.  On that day, the independent panel reviewing the New Prosperity mine proposalreleased a scathing report that confirmed what the Tsilhqot’in have said all along: this project would have devastating cultural and environmental impacts,would contaminate Teztan Biny (Fish Lake), and would destroy an area of unique and special significance to the Tsilhqot’in people – as a critical fishery, as a cultural school, as a sacred site, and as some of their last intact hunting and trapping grounds. 

Faced with this independent report, Taseko Mines Limited immediately started attacking the credibility of the independent panel, culminating in a lawsuit filed at the end of November.  In this lawsuit, the company asks the Federal Court to set aside key findings of the Panel and declare the Panel’s process unfair to the company.

The Tsilhqot’in Chiefs describe the company’s allegations as completely without merit and a transparent effort to distract attention from the second independent review to conclude that the mine would bring massive environmental and cultural destruction.  However, the company’s actions have left the Tsilhqot’in with little choice but to participate in this litigation to defend their rights and interests.

In order to participate in the judicial review, the Tsilhqot’in have estimated that $75,000 is required.  RAVEN has committed to trying to fundraise this amount by March 2013 so that the Tsilhqot’in have the resources they need to ensure that justice is served!

Please consider a small or large donation to assist the Tsilhqot’in in this ongoing struggle to protect Teztan Biny and their way of life.  Thanks to RAVEN donors, we are one step closer to stopping this threat to their pristine and sacred mountain lake for a second and hopefully final time.  The Tsilhqot’in Nation has very limited resources to take on a mining company in court, so every donation can make a substantial difference. 

Together, we can protect Teztan Biny once and for all.