Issue No. 3, September 2006

Sacred Headwaters Gathering

United in strength and solidarity, the Beauty Camp lies in close proximity to Haida, Gitxsan, Wet’suwet’en, Tlingit, where the three great rivers are born. “The Sacred Headwaters is Haisla Nations, and non-aboriginal Representatives of each Nation brought the birthplace of three great supporters gathered with the Tahltan on water from their territory and August 4, 2006 in the Kla-bon-a-tine rivers: the Skeena, the Nass, ceremoniously mixed them to reaffirm the Sacred Headwaters/Mount Klappan area and the Stikine. Indigenous sacredness and importance of protecting to celebrate their connection to this land. the headwaters for all Nations. people have called these The traditional territory of these First knotted mountains home for Nations runs from the Sacred Leaders and members of each Nation Headwaters of the great Skeena, Nass, took part in the ceremony to prevent generations.” and Stikine rivers to the Pacific Ocean. “unwanted resource development” on The First Nations are concerned that traditional territory. -Dr. Wade Davis negative impacts from mining, coal and oil and gas development will destroy the The ceremony united and strengthened land, wildlife, and rivers that they have each Nation in their struggle and Contact Us: occupied and that have sustained them determination to keep the Sacred for thousands of years. Headwaters of the great Skeena, Nass, Iskut Newsletter and Stikine rivers “wild, beautiful, and C/O Iskut Band Office The Klabona Keepers, a non-profit sacred forever.” society of Tahltan Elders, hosted the Iskut B.C Above: 7 Nations and supporters unite at late, Sacred Headwaters Gathering at Beauty highly respected Tahltan Elder Robert Quock’s www.sacredheadwaters.com Camp, the camp of late, highly respected Beauty Camp for the Sacred Headwaters Tahltan Elder Robert Quock. Gathering. Photo: Ramsay Bourquin Editor: Eileen Doody Email: [email protected]

Tahltan bombarded with proposed resource development projects on their traditional territory

During 2006, 50% of all mining exploration activities throughout NW BC are taking place on Tahltan territory. There are currently eight mega projects under exploration or development in the Stikine-Iskut region. Klappan is estimated to contain two billion tonnes of high quality anthracite coal and 8.3 trillion generators. Klappan could essentially cubic feet of coalbed methane. become a “no firing” zone with large Summary of amounts of methane gas escaping from The Sacred Headwaters Gathering events that led up drilled wells and openings in the ground. included a Headwaters Forum that took However, Shell has denied this up to this place on August 5, 2006 at the Sacred to the blockade, point. Headwaters Education Center; site of last arrests, and the years blockade and arrests of 9 Tahltan Possible Fortune Minerals open pit coal Elders and 6 others protecting Tahltan mine impacts: Acid Mine Drainage Sacred traditional territory from unwanted (AMD). Once the process starts, there’s resource development. no way to stop it. Impacts could last for Headwaters thousands of years. Coal mines produce Some mining activities proposed for the Gathering acid rain. Large mines operating near Kla-bon-a-tine Sacred Headwaters/Mount rural, indigenous communities result in Klappan area: Shell Canada’s proposed February 25, 2005 numerous, negative social impacts. coalbed methane project, Fortune Minerals (Mount Klappan Coal) proposed Tahltan Elder’s Moratorium (statement) open pit coal mine, a CN railroad, an prohibited any future resource industrial haul road to be built along development until certain conditions salmon streams to ship ore to a port in about governance, sustainability, shared Stewart BC, and BC Hydro’s proposed decision-making, and revenue sharing electrical transmission line routes. There were dealt with. are also proposed mining activities for Mid June, 2005 Groundhog Country by West Hawk Development Corporation and Todagin Shell Canada’s offer of a free trip to Mountain by bcMetals. Wyoming is rejected by Iskut First Nations, Tahltan Elders, and Tl’abanot’in Coalbed methane can have tremendous Clan. Forty Elders, councilors, hereditary impacts: high salinity of water kills leaders, and community members vegetation and fish, methane gas and revealed concerns about CBM extraction spills seep into streams and groundwater at an Iskut Community meeting. Within polluting drinking water and rivers, air 36 hours of the meeting, Shell decides to pollution, increased noise and traffic, and withdraw. social problems. Thousands of drill wells Above: So much to lose—so little to gain. Shell Canada drills for coalbed methane in will cover the Kla-bon-a-tine landscape Mount Klappan. Photo: Ramsay Bourquin. along with roads, air traffic, and noisy Below: Iskut elders and children at the blockade site, 2005. Photo: Jim Bourquin.

Iskut Newsletter No. 3: September 2006 2 November 24, 2005 June 18, 2005 “Our people are being Fortune Minerals application to extend the court injunction for another year Fortune Minerals was granted tenure bombarded with mining and against protesters is rejected by the BC without first consulting with the families coalbed methane proposals. Supreme Court. Fortune Minerals to pay whose traditional territories on which the for legal costs incurred by those arrested. tenure is located. On June 18, 2005 Hopefully, Fortune Minerals, A victory for Tahltan and Iskut members Fortune Minerals received notice that Shell Canada, and others arrested on September 16, 2005. their proposed open pit coal mine wanting to destroy the infringed upon Tl’abanot’in Aboriginal December 1, 2005 Title and Rights. Sacred Headwaters will Nova Gold wants approval of a Tahltan July 16, 2005 learn that we will never give Participation Agreement to give more up protecting our heritage.” assurance to company investors. Blockade erected at junction of Hwy 37 Attempts by the Tahltan Central Council and Ealue Lake road near Iskut BC by -Bertha Louie (Nole) for ratification of the Nova Gold Iskut community members, Tahltan agreement at the Iskut community hall Elders from Telegraph Creek, and was stopped by concerned Iskut Elders Tl’abanot’in families to prevent heavy September 16, 2005 and youth. Voting process moved to an machinery from entering the Sacred “off reserve” location. Headwaters so that Fortune Minerals 9 Tahltan Elders and 6 others arrested. could not impact high value traditional Charged with contempt for continuing to June 16, 2006 use areas. The protesters felt it would be blockade the access road to the Sacred bcMetals attempts to drive an excavator, appropriate and necessary for Fortune Headwaters despite Fortune Minerals D6 Cat, and drilling equipment sleds Minerals to speak directly with the people injunction. through trout spawning in Coyote Creek. mostly affected by proposed resource Apparently, bcMetals can air lift development in the area. October 28, 2005 equipment and reassemble the parts at July 18, 2005 Contempt of court charges dropped by the mine site for $480,000.00 or they can Fortune Minerals in an attempt to avoid build a 40 meter span bridge across Robin Goad from Fortune Minerals negative publicity after Iskut and Tahltan Coyote Creek. Instead they opted to walk informs protestors that they will only Elders were arrested for protecting their heavy equipment through the Coyote negotiate with duly elected Tahltan traditional territory of the Kla-bon-a-tine Creek trout spawning stream. Low cost to officials. (Some Iskut First Nations Sacred Headwaters/Mount Klappan area. bcMetals but a huge price to pay by the elected officials and Iskut First Nations Tahltan. The Iskut Band Council and Council worked with protestors, October 30, 2005 Tahltan Central Council supported the supported, and participated in the Forum: more than 200 First Nations Klabona Keepers decision to stop blockade.) When asked if Fortune people from 6 Nations gathered in bcMetals from harming the Coyote Creek Minerals would respect the Tahltan Terrace BC to support the Tahltan trout spawning stream. Elders Moratorium imposed on February arrested in September. A declaration was 25, 2005, Robin Goad’s response was, issued stating that future development August 4, 2006 “no we will not.” will only proceed with First Nations’ free, Sacred Headwaters Gathering at late September, 2005 prior, and informed consent. Tahltan Elder Robert Quock’s Beauty Camp in Klabona. A mixing of the water Fortune Minerals obtains injunction to November 1, 2005 ceremony was lead by the Klabona prevent Tahltan “dissidents” from Open house held in Terrace BC by Keepers to reaffirm the sacredness and blockading and interfering with their Fortune Minerals to do a presentation of importance of the headwaters for all environmental assessment work in their open pit coal mine project proposed Nations from the Tahltan to the Pacific Klappan. Injunction expires November for the Mount Klappan area. Large Ocean. Leaders and members of 7 15, 2005. Fortune Minerals announces Tahltan opposition displayed to Fortune Nations took part in the ceremony to that “the court also granted an Minerals President, Robin Goad. prevent “unwanted resource enforcement order authorizing police to development” on our traditional territory. arrest and remove any person who November 9, 2005 contravenes the injunction.” Protest is August 5, 2006 Marie Quock elected as Iskut’s first against too many proposed mining woman chief. Headwaters Forum at the Sacred energy projects all at once in the Sacred Headwaters Education Center. Speeches Headwaters area/Tahltan territories. by Dr. Wade Davis and Dr. David Suzuki.

Iskut Newsletter No. 3: September 2006 3 Dr. David Suzuki announces that he will air the Sacred Headwaters Gathering Sacred Headwaters Education nationally on his CBC—TV’s “The Nature of Things.” Declaration issued to keep Center News the Sacred Headwaters of the Skeena, Nass, and Stikine rivers “wild, beautiful, and sacred forever.” The Sacred Headwaters Education Center is located at the site of last years blockade and arrests. Today the building is used as a meeting/gathering place to socialize and have regular community potlucks. Educational videos are often shown in the evenings. Tahltan Elder, Jenny Quock teaches the youth how to work on moose hides. Tahltan Elder, Winnie Nole teaches how to cut and smoke meat. This winter, Peter Jakesta wants to teach youth how to trap and skin animals. Pictures of last years Above: Tahltan Elder, Jerry Quock arrested for protecting Tahltan traditional territory from blockade and arrests adorn the interior of unwanted resource development the Sacred Headwaters Education Photo: Jim Bourquin Center as a solemn reminder of why

today the Sacred Headwaters Education Center stands: to honor the Elders and “We, the people who use and occupy these lands, will supporters who were arrested trying to protect the Kla-bon-a-tine Sacred Above: Dr. Wade Davis speaks at Sacred decide which and how many Headwaters/Klappan area from Headwaters forum. Photo: Ramsay Bourquin. Below: Headwaters Forum at Sacred projects are appropriate for unwanted resource development, and to Headwaters Education Center. Logo on unite, encourage, strengthen, and give building by Tahltan artist: Huey Carlick Photo: our traditional territory. We Ramsay Bourquin owe it to our children and hope to those who continue the fight to A special thanks to all participants of the Sacred Headwaters Gathering! grandchildren to protect our protect our traditional territory! sacred lands.” -Rhoda Quock, Klabona Keepers

August 9, 2006

7 members of Iskut First Nation stop mining company West Hawk from entering Klabona access road. West Hawk does not file for injunction and recognizes their lack of consultation.

August 23, 2006 Iskut First Nation stop mining company bcMetals from entering the Klabona access road. Tahltan supported by non- natives, Gitxsan, and Wet’suwet’en Nations. bcMetals files for injunction.

Iskut Newsletter No. 3: September 2006 4