The Friends of Clayoquot Sound are organizing a public event where guests will hear from speakers who support the concept of tribal parks and oppose industrial mining in Clayoquot Sound.
Tsilhqot’in, Mining, and Tribal Parks; Implications for the West Coast will be held in Tofino on Feb. 26 at the Clayoquot Community Theatre at 8 p.m.
In recent years a mining company, Selkirk Metals, has been carrying out the groundwork to begin exploration work at the former Fandora gold mine, located within Tla-o-qui-aht territories. But Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation opposes the idea of industrial mining in their territories. Beginning in 1987, Tla-o-qui-aht declared Meares Island a tribal park and have been building on the concept in the years following.
The Friends of Clayoquot Sound, a local environmental group, supports the Tla-o-qui-aht in their tribal parks concept and are organizing the event as part of their own mine-free campaign.
Speakers include Eli Enns, who will be speaking about Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks.
Nitanis Desjarlais will share her experiences on the Mount Polley Mining disaster. Last summer the wall of a tailings pond collapsed spilling toxic materials into creeks, rivers and ponds in one of the worst environmental disasters in Canadian history.
The final speaker will be lawyer Drew Mildon of Woodward & Company, who is working with the Tsilhqot’in people in their fight for their aboriginal rights and title. They have fought Canada in court over title cases and won. They also have designated tribal parks in their territories.
Admission to the event is by donation and all proceeds will go to TFN Tribal Parks.
