#roger william

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Roger William's

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All men of conscience or prudence ply to windward, to maintain their wars to be defensive.

Roger William, on the English war of conquest against the Wampanoags

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William and Alphonse respond to Tsilhqot'in court ruling

Williams Lake Tribune - June 28, 2012 Roger William's reaction to the B.C. Court of Appeal decision on the William Case this week is mixed. "I think in a sense we feel that we have title and are certainly disappointed, but at the same time the appeal did uphold our rights, which is very strong. In that sense I'm very happy," said William, one of the three plaintiffs. The other two who appealed the case are the provincial and federal governments. Regarding title, William said the judge ruled that he didn't feel that an overall territorial title was warranted in the case. "We won't be going to the Supreme Court of Canada pushing for site specific rights," William said. "The Tsilhqot'in understanding of title is title for the whole area. There's no place in the country or the world that has title to specific areas. You can look up any country and see that the don't have title that is site specific; they have title to a whole area and they have a boundary." William said First Nations have tried treaties, but they have been broken, and court cases seem to be the only option. "Certainly it is status quo in terms of the Judge Vicker's decision where we feel and understand that our declaration of rights to hunt, to trade, to trap and use wild horses means that Canada and B.C. have to prove to us that they will not infringe on those aboriginal rights to those areas." William said as he listened to the ruling he was thinking about the elders and children in his community. Some of the members from his community who testified are no longer alive. His mood changed from being disappointed to feeling things could have been worse. "What about trade. What about horses? That still remains. The ruling hands down lots of protection and issues that we can work on," he said. Tlet'inqox (Anaham) Chief Joe Alphonse said the William case and subsequent appeal have been a long fight for the Tsilhqot'in Nation. "Since 1992, we've been struggling with this issue, but the verdict in the court of appeal today upheld our rights and access to resources on our traditional lands," Alphonse said Wednesday. One area he says is weak is the ruling around recognized title. "We're describing it as a postage stamp approach. As Tsilhqot'in we recognize having ownership to the whole territory, not bits and pieces. It opens the door to take that specific issue and challenge to the Supreme Court of Canada." By right, Alphonse says he thinks an issue that large should go to the Supreme Court of Canada. It's an issue that all First Nations across Canada are struggling and fighting with. And if it's overruled there, the implications will be felt all across the country, not just in B.C. Alphonse says, adding there's still work to do to push the issue. "We'll continue to digest the ruling step by step and make appropriate decisions at the appropriate time."

http://www.wltribune.com/news/160753675.html  

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APTN National News - June 29, 2012

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Court of Appeal for British Columbia - June 27, 2012

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Taseko holds New Prosperity open houses

April 17, 2012 - WL Tribune

Taseko environmental technician Ashley Overton chats with John Mansell and Glenn Lambe during the Monday afternoon open house Taseko held at the Gibraltar room.

Around 100 people attended the open house hosted by Taseko Mines Ltd. on Monday afternoon at the Gibraltar Room.

Taseko’s vice president of corporate affairs Brian Battison shared two short video presentations on the New Prosperity and Gibraltar Mine projects, and then invited the public to speak one on one with staff members of Taseko.

Before Battison began his presentation, half a dozen local First Nations gathered inside the entrance way to drum and sing a traditional song.

Once the song was completed, they came into the room to listen to the presentation.

During his short presentation, Battison said the mine presents an economical impact that will last for 22 years.

“This investment, along with the benefit that will flow from it, can be accomplished without significant risk to the environment and with the very highest standards of mine development being practiced in the world,” Battison said, adding he hopes the project will receive the approval it deserves.

After the presentation, Glenn Lambe and John Massell both said even though it won’t affect them, they hope the mine goes through for the region’s economy.

On the other hand, Tl’esqox Chief Francis Laceese said he didn’t hear his concerns alleviated in the presentation — predominantly he’s worried about high winds at the proposed mine site that will blow tailings dust around the area that will impact terrain and local wildlife.

Taseko’s environmental technician Ashley Overton worked for seven years at Gibraltar, before working on the New Prosperity project, and confirmed wind has been a big factor at Gibraltar.

“There is a real dust problem there,” she said.

At New Prosperity she said they will have to do early mitigation work, such as grass seeding right away.

Roger William of the Xeni Gwet’in said he still does not believe that Fish Lake can be saved.

“In 2008 they were talking about a 13-year addition. There’s a 20-year plan and then there’s a 13-year addition that will have to go under Fish Lake. The deposit does not go under the lake, but to get down there they will have to go out closer toward the lake,” William said. A proper environmental assessment would look at the 33-year mine, he added, suggesting the present project proposal does not present the full picture.

“Our people are saying once you get in, five years, 10 years into the mine, then you’re going to think about the 13-year addition and then you might have an easier argument to destroy the lake. In my mind that lake is going to have to be destroyed; that’s the only way they could do it,” William said.

Responding, Battison said the present proposal is for a 20-year mine and an open pit that will eventually extend to within 500 metres of the lake.

If the mine were to go to 33 years, the pit would extend to the lake, Battison said, but insisted “this proposal is for 20 years.”

Overton added if Taseko wanted to extend the mine beyond 20 years, it would have to go through another environmental assessment.

A second open house was held in the evening and then moves on to 100 Mile House today (Tuesday).

http://www.wltribune.com/news/147671905.html

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Roger William states that Taseko exploration was premature

Welcome to Williams Lake - December 2, 2011

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Roger William from TNG said that they heard the judge’s decision this afternoon at approximately 4:00pm in the case of the injunctions by both Taseko and TNG regarding mining company’s exploratory work on the proposed Prosperity mine site.

“This is a positive decision,” he said. “We got a three-month injunction in place to deal with BC’s approval of Prosperity’s explorations. We’re pretty happy with that and want to meet with the Ministry and a judicial review board that will go through BC’s approval process.”

Roger said that they engaged in ceremonial prayers, drumming and singing throughout the week: on the steps of the BC Courthouse during the hearing, and yesterday and today in their own communities. “There was a lot of spiritual support and encouragement from lots of sources throughout the week,” he said.

He said that they feel that the whole Taseko exploration was premature. “What we would like to see come out of all this is a proper process,” he explained. “This is our title case area. Our lawyers and experts have to be involved, as well as our leaders and our families who are using the area. I think the best outcome would be to show and to inform BC that we need to wait for the federal process.

“In order to have proper communication between ourselves and the Ministry we need to have the capacity and funding to do so,” he continued.

He stated that there is a declaration in place for the Tsilhqot’in people to hunt, fish, trap and trade in the area of the proposed Prosperity Mine, as well as to trap and use wild horses. “We feel that this new proposal is worse than the first one: how would you feel if you had a pristine lake surrounded by open pits and tailing ponds?” he asked.

“One of leaders said recently that this is the wrong project, the wrong time and the wrong company,” he added. “To be feasible it has to be both culturally and environmentally sound.”

http://welcometowilliamslake.ca/index.php/the-news/local-news/4672-roger-williams-states-that-taseko-exploration-was-premature.html