"White people are all coyotes."
"We are still in that fight"
An interlocutor for the Tsilcot'in National Government entered the media room at the B.C. First Nations Mining Summit on Oct. 7, 2008, with a delegation of Elders and chiefs, and said, "These Elders are from Xeni Gwetin and that was a big court victory on forestry and this is the community where the Supreme Court of B.C. said in Aboriginal Title Territory, which is most of British Columbia, the government of British Columbia has no authority to issue licenses, forest tenures.
"And that's in their territory and of course it's true for the rest of the province where there are no agreements. It is the same with mining even though we don't have a specific case on it. But the example here is they've been in discussions I gather with Prosperity Mines and they can answer questions about consultation."
Answer they did, for the Tsilcot'in National Government and members of the TNG council like the Xeni Gwetin and also Alexandria Band and other Indian Reserves spoke regarding a specific situation that has gone pretty bad. Prosperity Mines has proposed a copper/gold extraction at Fish Lake in the Tsilcot'in traditional territory.
An Elder spoke through interpreter: "If the mining does go ahead at Fish Lake it's going to wreck not only the area at Fish Lake but also it will damage Nemiah Valley, Chilcotin and Tsiko Lakes, and the Tsiko River that goes into Chilko River, which flows into the watershed at Vancouver.
"The area around Fish Lake was trap line for an Elder who passed away and also for the father (of the present chief). It is an area of traditional hunting, camping, and gathering of medicines," and other closely regarded cultural practices.
At that moment, Roger William of the Tsilqot'in National Government began to describe a series of setbacks in forestry, in particular, widespread clear cutting and then harvests of timber related to Mountain Pine Beetle infestations were let out to companies without any consultation with Xeni Gwetin.
"You know that was betrayal; B.C never did talk to us about making a decision, never did consult with us. The company themselves did not consult with us, did not meet with us."
Now as mining looms over the Xeni Gwetin territory Roger said, "One hundred percent of all EA processes became a mine, and that's what we're dealing with."
Roger William explained, "Right from the start in the 1990s, our former chiefs, myself and our new chief always said and our people always said we don't want to lose Fish Lake; and we have a lot of issues and concerns about mines because the stories that come from other First Nations about what's happening to their area, and you heard the stories this morning downstairs in the First Nations mining conference."
The chief said the Xeni Gwetin don't see progress from the government on accommodation of Aboriginal Rights in their territory.
"I don't think they really have made progress on the government end. What we continue to have is, you know, we have no time on consultations, we're rushed we're rushed, and we have the government and their proponents pushing forward without respecting the court decision in our territory, and in that sense I don't see the progress."
The Chief from Alexandria Band, Bernie Elkins, said, "The problem that we face is, when a project becomes big they are constantly expanding, but when do they consult with us? And they don't. They get permits, keep expanding, and that's a problem. It goes right past us."
Another Elder was translated regarding the question of development in Xeni Gwetin, "This is going to really ruin Fish Lake. We have the most beautiful country, and that's why people are coming there to try and destroy what we have," at which moment the translator hesitated.
"I'm not going to translate what she said at the end," said the translator, who then demurred, "She said, 'White people are all coyotes.'"
The Elder added, "Our fish in Fish Lake are very important to us. They are killing off all of the other animals, deer and moose and so forth." Fish, especially the five species of salmon that return, are the essential staple of their diet.
Chief Bernie Elkins said, "They do consultation but they fall short of accommodation. The EA process should contain the ability to say no."
The chief of Xeni Gwetin said, "Across all First Nation communities there is no consultation protocol in place, and that needs to come first, and of course the mining proponent and government is putting the cart before the horse. They are ignoring our rights and title.
"Our people have stood up for our territory our land for many, many generations and that's proven as far back as 1800s when our leaders were hanged for protecting our territory and we are still in that fight."
The B.C. First Nations Mining Summit was sponsored by six First Nation organizations, including British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, Taku River Tlingit, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, and was held in the traditional territory of the Lheidli Tenneh, Prince George, B.C. Civic Centre.
