TAHLTAN have voted 82 per cent in favour of agreements providing money and employment opportunities tied to the Northwest Transmission Line and a stake in deciding how future economic development will take place on their traditional territory.
The agreements needed 60 per cent of those who voted to say ‘yes’ in order for the agreements to be ratified.
But participation was low, with just over 27 per cent of the estimated 2,800 eligible Tahltan turning out to vote over a week- long period which concluded April 15.
Final numbers released April 15 indicate that 773 votes were cast with 634 in favour and 136 opposed. There were two spoiled ballots and one was rejected.
The vote was conducted by the Tahltan Central Council which represents the interests of Tahltan on their traditional territory which takes in the Iskut-Dease Lake-Telegraph Creek area of northwestern BC.
The area contains a number of promising mineral properties, including the Red Chris copper deposits owned by Imperial Metals and the Galore Creek copper property owned by NovaGold and Teck Cominco.
This mineral wealth is helping drive the construction of the Northwest Transmission Line from Terrace into Tahltan territory to provide power for mining.
Tahltan Central Council information puts the dollar value of cash and employment opportunities tied to the power line at $15 million.
That’s based on 70km of the line running through Tahltan territory and the location of a substation marking the end of the line at Bob Quinn on Hwy37 which is also on Tahltan territory.
But the Tahltan have also approved of a broader agreement with the provincial government giving them a decision-making role on projects which stem from the power line.
Within this broader agreement is a provision for revenue-sharing between the province and the Tahltan for projects developed as a result of the power line.
Leading up to the start of the ratification vote, Tahltan Central Council president Annita McPhee said it was important to realize the Northwest Transmission Line could not be treated in isolation.
“We compare this to a highway,” said McPhee of the line. “It opens up our territory to so much.”
The Nisga’a Nation’s legislature has also approved of an impact benefits agreement which includes having the power line run through a section of the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park.
The Kitselas and the Metlakatla have also signed impact benefits agreements but last week the Gitanyow said it could not reach a deal with BC Hydro.
The Gitanyow want a land management plan taking in the portion of the line running through its traditional territory.
