News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

At 10:00am this morning members of the Tsilhqot’in National Government (TNG), along with friends and supporters, gathered outside the BC Law Courts in Vancouver. A hearing of two injunctions takes place this week: the TNG injunction against Taseko Mines Ltd (TML) to halt drilling and road-building on the proposed Prosperity Mine site, and the TML injunction against TNG restraining them from interfering with drilling and road-building.

(Friends and supporters joined TNG chiefs for ceremonial drumming and singing.)

At the end of October TML was issued an ‘Occupant License’ signed by the B.C. Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations permitting them to dig test holes and begin road construction. The TNG considers this license unlawful.

On November 18th, the judge hearing Taseko's injunction application agreed with the TNG's lawyer that both TML and TNG injunction applications should be heard at the same time, and hearings are scheduled for the next two to five days for this purpose. 

(Roger William from the TNG, pictured here on the left, said that there was great support at the event this morning.)

“Our purpose today is to raise awareness and bring attention to this injunction,” he said. “We are a spiritual people---and that is very important to us. There is a lot of support out there for this cause, and there were prayers and ceremonial drumming happening at 10:00am in other First Nations communities.”

He said that the turnout this morning was positive—with great support from a range of organizations and individuals. Several local chiefs were at the event, including Chief Marilyn Baptists and Chief Bernie Elkins.  

"Our prayers are that the right thing will happen, and that there will be a positive outcome of this injunction case,” he said.

He said that already today they have been in the courtroom for the hearing, and back outside for more drumming and singing. “This may go on for the rest of the week, it may go on for three days or it may end tomorrow,’ he said. “We will continue as long as it takes.”

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