By James Peters

Local first nations meet with Federal Environment Minister

Jul 18, 2016 | 2:19 PM

KAMLOOPS — Chiefs from the Skeetchestn and Tk’emlups Indian Bands met federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna last week, impressing upon her their concerns around the proposed KGHM-Ajax mine and its impacts to the Jacko Lake area.

Skeetchestn Chief Ron Ignace says it was a fruitful meeting.

“We let her know that we want to meet with Polish ambassador and let them know that Poland his a full signatory to [the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples] and that we want them to uphold that,” said Ignace. “Also, we called for a federal negotiator to speak with us on a nation-to-nation basis.”

The two bands have launched their own environmental review into the Ajax project.

Ignace says McKenna committed to respond within a few weeks.

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“We listened to her statement and it sounded very forthcoming in terms of being attentive to aboriginal concerns and issues,” said Ignace.

“It was a very positive meeting as far as I’m concerned and we look forward to hearing from her.”

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