By Vanessa Ybarra

Stk’emlúpsemc te Secwépemc Nation’s opposition to Ajax receives strong backing

Apr 1, 2017 | 12:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Stk’emlúpsemc te Secwépemc Nation’s opposition to the proposed KGHM Ajax mine has received considerable backing.

More than 30 organizations, ranging from the David Suzuki foundation to various forest and mining operations from throughout B.C. have signed a ‘Declaration of Support’ in favour of SSN’s firm stance against the proposed open-pit mine that would be built on Secwepmeec land near Jacko Lake.

The announcement was made at a press conference at Thompson Rivers University Saturday.

Ugo Lapointe with Mining Watch Canada was one of many organization representatives who attended the event to show their support for local first nations.

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“At this stage, we don’t see how the mine could proceed without consent of the first nations,” said Ugo Lapointe with Mining Watch Canada. “The powerful thing that happened today is an acknowledgment from all parties of the careful and rigorous process that the first nations went through to access this project, and that’s quite unique. We need to all acknowledge, there’s no consent of this particular mine at this particular location.”

The announcement comes after the SSN conducted its own environmental review of the Ajax mine project.

Earlier this week it was announced the application review process for the KGHM-Ajax project has been restarted, after the BC Environmental Assessment Office received necessary additional documentation from the mining company.