This doesn't include the Tahltan, but it's down the highway to the south. Could be relevant to Schaft Creek someday if it catches on...

First Nations group lays out rules for mining on their land

The legalistic 54-page document, containing dozens of strict conditions, comes as the B.C. government conducts its own review on how to deal with natural resource projects in light of the landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision on aboriginal land rights in June.

"This is not about ending all mining," said Chief Patrick Harry, of the Stswecem'c/Xgat'tem (Canoe and Dog Creek) First Nation, in a joint statement released Monday.

"It is about ending the practice of anyone being allowed to stake a claim anywhere they want, exploring wherever they want, and developing projects regardless of our rights, concerns and objections."

The four First Nations based near Williams Lake are represented by the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw Leadership Council, made up of leaders of the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council.

The four are the Xat'sull (Soda Creek), T'exelc (Williams Lake), Tsq'escen' (Canim Lake) and Stswecem'c/Xgat'tem (Canoe and Dog Creek First Nation) First Nations.

The 5.6 million hectares of land covered by the policy are home to four operating hard rock mines, including some controversial operations.

They include Imperial Metals' Mount Polley Mine, site of a major tailings pond breach this summer, and Taseko's Gibraltar Mine. Taseko has earned the wrath of First Nations in the area by pushing the New Prosperity gold-copper project that has failed two separate federal environmental reviews since 2010.

Companies, including Gold Fields, Newmont, Bearing Resources and Great Western Resources, have explored in the region in recent years, and there are several thousand claims, the First Nations say.

David Haslam, a spokesman for the B.C. mines ministry said Victoria is reviewing the policy, but noted the province has negotiated more than 200 agreements, mostly on economic matters, over the past four years.

The B.C. Mining Association said it won't comment on the announcement while it awaits a provincial policy on mine development.

The policy announced Monday is believed to be the first of its kind in B.C., according to Amy Crook of the Fair Mining Collaborative. Crook was contracted by the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council leaders to help draft the document.

It declares in a preamble that current B.C. laws don't adequately protect the environment, and that First Nations haven't been adequately compensated for mine development.

Using language from the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, it says mining activity on First Nations' traditional territories can't take place without their "free, prior and informed consent."

It says proponents or the Crown must engage in "meaningful" consultations to obtain that consent, must provide adequate compensation for any harms or losses, and must engage in mining operations using the "Precautionary Principle and the Principle of Intergenerational Equity."