A 19-page draft mining policy was released by Tsilhqot’in Nation today requiring resource companies to share revenue and create “. . . meaningful jobs, training, procurement and contracts with mining and exploration companies.”
The authors say the policy will provide greater certainty, as well as ensuring the First Nation’s values are shared.
“The Tsilhqot’in Nation will consider culturally and ecologically conscious development of mineral resources in the Tsilhqot’in traditional territory, provided the ecological and cultural values of the Tsilhqot’in are respected and there are significant long-term social and economic benefits for Tsilhqot’in communities,” writes the authors in the guiding principles.
Tsilhqot’in Nation also released a territory map.
Last month the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Tsilhqot’in First Nation has full rights over 1,750 square kilometres of land in south central British Columbia. It was the first time the country’s high court acknowledges an aboriginal’s title to a specific tract of land.
[gview file=”http://www.tsilhqotin.ca/PDFs/MiningPolicyDistribution.pdf”]