Editor:
I read with disbelief Doug Wilson’s badly misinformed letter in the Tribune regarding Fish Lake, the Roger William case for rights and title, and the hearings into New Prosperity mine.
The area called Nabas, that includes Fish lake, Fish Creek, Little Fish Lake, Onion Lake, Little Onion Lake and Wasp Lake (all of which will be threatened by contaminated tailings pond seepage according to Environment Canada scientists), is within the trap-line area that is included in the Roger William case.
The Appeal Court of B.C. has entrenched, and enforceable, Aboriginal rights here.
Too bad that drumming offends Mr. Wilson.
It is, in this context, a cultural formality respectful of the process and all participants.
Xeni Gwet’in, in whose Caretaker lands Nabas lies, are a spiritual people.
If he were to attend the hearings he would learn just what an environmentally destructive operation New Prosperity would be.
Environment Canada yesterday cited “some inconsistencies in the EIS, some uncertainty regarding seepage from the tailing storage facility (TSF), the unproven nature of some of the water recirculation and some of the proposed treatment methods, …” sufficient to cast serious doubt on the ability of Fish Lake to survive after more than a few years of mine life.
It would seem that Taseko Mines Ltd. claim to “save” Fish Lake is bogus.
As to whether Tsilhqot’in people ever go to Nabas; Taseko’s own archaeologists found evidence of occupation going back 6500 years.
There is an old pit house on the island in the lake and there are graves in several locations.
The William family have a cabin at Little Fish Lake and graze cattle in the meadows.
I have attended many events there including a youth gathering last August and a Brittany Gathering.
There was an Elder’s gathering at Onion Lake a few years ago.
This area is very actively used, as it has been for many more years than there has been a Williams Lake and its Doug Wilsons.
David Williams
Executive Director
Friends of the Nemaiah Valley
