A multi-national mining company has issued a public apology to the Quatsino First Nation for longstanding damage done to its traditional territory during operations of the Island Copper Mine.
The open pit mine is located deep in Quatsino ancestral lands on Northern Vancouver Island, and at one point it became the lowest man-made place in the world during its operations between 1971-1995.
During its 24 years of existence, the mine removed roughly one billion tonnes of ore, before it eventually closed in 1995 and then flooded with ocean water. No royalties were paid to the Quatsino First Nation, and there was no consultation on the project that ultimately destroyed much of the sea life around the beach in front of their village.
Once flush with an abundance of sea life such as urchins, ling cod and abalone, the nation says they were all wiped out by all the dumping of waste rock over the span of the mineB次元官网网址檚 existence.
BHP, who acquired the Island Copper Mine back in 1984, sent a group of representatives to travel to Quatsino to issue a formal apology to the nation on Tuesday evening (Sept. 20).
B次元官网网址淭oday IB次元官网网址檓 honoured and humbled by this invitation to be with you all, and my hope is to convey this sincerity that underlies our visit to your community,B次元官网网址� Kate Sommerville, BHPB次元官网网址檚 general manager, legacy assets, said to the crowd of Quatsino First Nation residents who were in attendance at the community hall. B次元官网网址淭his is the first visit with you, we hope the first of many.B次元官网网址�
Sommerville noted BHP wanted to acknowledge that the mine is located on the ancestral and traditional unceded land of the Quatsino First Nation.
B次元官网网址淥n behalf of BHP, I come to your territory today to humbly apologize for past actions and shortcomings, and to ask your community for forgiveness. I hope with this apology we can start over, we can rebuild, we can work together for change, so that together we leave a positive legacy for the generations to come.B次元官网网址�
Sommerville added BHP deeply regrets the mineB次元官网网址檚 lack of consultation and involvement with the Quatsino First Nation that has affected their community. She stated past practices at the mine B次元官网网址渇ell short of the standard of which we aspire to today, and this led to a relationship of mistrust that hindered the development of a collaborative relationship between BHP and the Quatsino First Nation.B次元官网网址�
BHP is promising to collaborate on remediation efforts and environmental monitoring in order to reset the relationship with the nation.
B次元官网网址淲e view this apology as the first step, and we will continue to take meaningful actions to nurture our relationship and to work together in respect, transparency, and collaboration,B次元官网网址� stated Sommerville. B次元官网网址淚t is our sincere hope that we can move forward together, on the grounds of a refreshed relationship to create a prosperous future for the Quatsino First Nation.B次元官网网址�
Chief Tom Nelson spoke later on that night about how after the mine had started operation, the Quatsino people were left with nowhere to go to harvest food sources.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 my turn to let you all know what BHP did to our food chain out here,B次元官网网址� Nelson said, noting how they used to be able to harvest food for trade at various traditional spots before the mine opened B次元官网网址渁nd polluted the waters.B次元官网网址�
Nelson continued, stating that due to losing their food chain, B次元官网网址渢he generation here today, they do not even know how to go out there and harvest any of this stuff because it isnB次元官网网址檛 there for them.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e do have a lot to talk about with BHP to compensate us [for] what we lost, and in the next few days we will be having some heavy duty meetings to discuss [compensation] with BHP,B次元官网网址� added Nelson.
After questions from residents, some visuals of the mine site and affected areas around it were shown via slideshow, before Sommerville was given the mic to issue a response.
B次元官网网址淭hank you for coming tonight to take the time to tell us stories, ask us questions, and also raise concerns,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e have heard a lot this evening, and our team has been taking many notes.B次元官网网址�
Sommerville added BHP will be starting as soon as it can to demolish the infrastructure at the mine site, clean up spillage, and restore the fish habitat so the company can hand the area back to the crown who will B次元官网网址渉and it back to you.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭oday was our first meeting, and we are going to be continuing discussions tomorrow, and thatB次元官网网址檚 when we are going to begin to talk about opportunities for shared value.B次元官网网址�
editor@northislandgazette.com
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