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BC First Nations serve eviction notices to mining companies

By: 
Janahan Ravikumar

October 7, 2014

On August 4 of this year, the dam holding the water of the tailings pond for Imperial Metals' Mount Polley mine broke open. The result was a flood of 2.5 billion gallons of contaminated water and four million cubic meters of sediment flowing into several bodies of water: Azeltine Creek, Polley Lake and Quesnel Lake in the Cariboo region of British Columbia. All of which connect to the Fraser River Watershed. Life in the region has been changed forever by this incident.  
 
With the terrible reputation that mining companies have in relation to mine clean up, the people of the Secwepemc First Nation have set up a checkpoint at the mouth of the mine to monitor Imperial Metals progress in the restoration of the area. The company is sending 43,000 kg trucks in and out, but is still cutting corners by not implementing the right safety measures for its workers.
 
Indigenous people of the region are uniting to fight the companies and to get them out of their home lands. The Tahltan people have blockaded Imperial Metals' Red Chris Mine and given eviction notices to remove them from their land. Their elders, the Klabona Keepers, have delivered several other eviction notices to Oz Minerals and Firesteel Resources.
 
Two months after the incident at Mt. Polley, the truth is clear that Imperial Metals doesn’t want to help the Secwepemc people nor do they want to clean up the mine properly. The government isn’t forcing the company to do anything. It is up the people to make Imperial Metals clean the land, it’s up to the people to fight for their rights, and it is up to them to spread the word. But it doesn’t have to be just them, we can show solidarity. Lawyers, miners, students, and Indigenous peoples can unite. It is time to change the status quo. 
 
For updates follow the facebook group Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp

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