Mining company wants Tsilhquot'in film censored at public hearing

Mining company wants film sympathetic to Tsilhqot'in barred from public hearing
UPDATE: Public Hearing Schedule

By Andrew MacLeod March 17, 2010
http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Aboriginal-Affairs/2010/03/17/FishLakeFilm/
Photo: http://www.raventrust.com/
Taseko Mines Ltd. is seeking to prevent a federal panel reviewing its proposal for a gold and copper mine in northern British Columbia from showing a public hearing a documentary it says is biased in favour of the Tsilhqot'in First Nation, who are opposed to the project.

The Tsilhqot'in National Government had requested the film, Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot'in Fight for Teztan Biny (Fish Lake), be shown during a public hearing on Taseko's proposal, according to a message sent today to review panel participants by the panel's chair Robert Connelly.

A lawyer acting for Taseko, Keith Clark with the Vancouver firm Lang Michener, outlined the company's concerns in an e-mail to the review panel yesterday. “It is not evidence,” he wrote. “It is a propaganda film, produced to influence the opinions or behaviour of people, by providing deliberately biased content in an emotional context. By its nature, there is no opportunity for Taseko or anyone else to challenge it. When it is finished it is done. There is no one to answer questions or clarify any of the assertions.”

An e-mail distributed through the Friends of the Nemaiah Valley, one of the groups that funded the documentary directed by Susan Smitten, says Blue Gold is an important film. “It documents the voices of the Tsilhqot'in people themselves,” it said. “These voices are not filtered . . . They are the honest and deeply sincere voices of people who are defending their traditional territory.

“Taseko continues to trivialize these voices by labeling the film 'propaganda.'”

The panel intends to consider Taseko's objection during its first day of hearings in Williams Lake on March 22, Connelly wrote.

You can watch Blue Gold here:

Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot'in Fight for Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) from Susan Smitten on Vimeo.

Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot'in Fight for Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) from Susan Smitten on Vimeo.

Update: On March 18 the documentary was relabeled as "private" on Vimeo, the site where it is hosted. The issue was technical, we're told, and it was again available by mid-afternoon.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.



Agenda for Public Hearings

Message from John Hummel
I used to work for the Tsilhqot'in people in this film. They contacted me for support yesterday. That crazy mining company Taseko wants to turn their lake into a toxic tailings pond with stuff like arsenic and mercury in it! Hope you share this email and link to the film far and wide!
All the best to you.

For Land and Life,
John H.W. Hummel

Link to watch film Taseko Mines wants to censor at the public hearings today in Williams Lake, B.C.:

http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Aboriginal-Affairs/2010/03/17/FishLakeFilm

AGENDA FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS

This hearing is in Williams Lake, B.C. - This is the Mine where they want to turn a whole lake into a Toxic Tailings Pond!
Note: I Got the Agenda Below from the Internet
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Update to Speakers' List for this week's Prosperity Mine Federal Review Public Hearings. I've received an updated list to the delegation (speakers') list at the Federal Review Panel for the proposed Prosperity Mine. Here it is: (Updated as of Saturday at 7:45am)

Monday, March 22 - Gibraltar Room, Cariboo Memorial Complex
Daytime Session - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Taseko Mines Ltd.

Tsilhqot’in National Government - Chiefs

Mandell Pinder – Counsel for the Canoe Creek (Bruce Stadfeld)

University of Victoria – ENVS461 Class (Dr. Karen Hurley & students)

Monday, March 22nd - Gibraltar Room, Cariboo Memorial Complex
Evening Session - 7-9 p.m.

Connie Jones

Josee Galipeau

Mining Suppliers Association of BC (Dave Sharples)

Share the Cariboo-Chilcotin Resources Society (Bill Carruthers)

Cariboo Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd. (Brian Garland & Tammy Tugnum)

Council of Canadians (Meera Karunananthan and Harjap Grewal)

Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society (Alice Stoddard)

Tuesday, March 23 - Gibraltar Room, Cariboo Memorial Complex
Daytime Session - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City of Williams Lake (Mayor Kerry Cook)

The Williams Lake Construction Association (Kevin Bourdon, Grant Barley, Bonnie Griffith, Bryan Neufeld)

Mining Association of BC (Pierre Gratton)

Williams Lake Field Naturalists (Fred McMechan)

Tsilhqot’in National Government - Chiefs

Tsilhqot’in National Government - (Roger Williams, Loretta Williams)

Xat’sull (Soda Creek) First Nation - (Thomas Phillips)

Tuesday, March 23rd - Gibraltar Room, Cariboo Memorial Complex
Evening Session - 7-9 p.m.

Ranchland Honda (David Baye)

Doug Wilson

Russell Samuel Myers Ross

Federico Osorio

Jane Wellburn

Christine Hornby

Great West Equipment (Andrew Thompson)

Wednesday, March 23 - Gibraltar Room, Cariboo Memorial Complex
Daytime Session - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Health Canada (Dr. Carl Alleyne, Luc Pelletier)

Natural Resources Canada (Rob Johnstone, Margo Burgess, Kathy McPherson)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (TBD)

Transport Canada (John Mackie, Linda Sullivan)

B.C. Chamber of Commerce (Jon Garson and John Winters)

Mining Watch Canada (Ramsey Hart)

Tsilhqot’in National Government - Chiefs

Tsilhqot’in National Government – Chilko Watershed Roundtable

Tsilhqot’in National Government – Invasive Plant Committee

Tsilhqot’in National Government – Archaeology First Nations Field Assistants

Tsilhqot’in National Government (Helen Haig-Brown)

Wednesday, March 24 - Gibraltar Room, Cariboo Memorial Complex
Evening Session - 7-9 p.m.

Tsilhqot’in National Government – Movie presentation: “Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot’in Fight for Teztan Biny (Fish Lake)” Pending: A motion has been received from Taseko Mines Limited, objecting to the showing of the film. The Panel will make its decision on the first day of the hearing after giving the motion due consideration. Please see the Project’s public registry, CEAR document #1791

Thursday, March 25
Daytime Session - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. @ Room 119, Pioneer Complex (351 Hodgson Road)

Stephanie Bird

Williams Lake & District Chamber of Commerce (Susan Redford)

Taseko Lake Outfitters (Siegfried Reuter)

Tsilhqot’in National Government - Xeni Gwet’in Cultural Tourism Program

Williams Lake Tribune (Lorne Doerkson)

Pacific Coastal Airlines (Daryl Smith)

Council of Canadians – Williams Lake Chapter (John Dressler)

Tsilhqot’in National Government - Chiefs

Tsilhqot’in National Government - (Linda Myers, Maria Myers)

Friday, March 26th - Valley Room, the Lodge in 100 Mile House, BC
Daytime Session - 12:00pm to 5:00pm & Evening Session - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Taseko Mines Ltd. (Brief overview presentation, and questions)

Lower Bridge Creek Water Stewardship Society (Gordon Hoglund)

Yalakom Ecological Society (Karley Zibeau)

Rob Henneker

100 Mile House Mayor Mitch Campsall

Saturday, March 27th - Alexis Creek Community Hall
Daytime Session - 10:00am to 6:00pm

Taseko Mines Ltd. (Brief overview presentation, and questions)

Cariboo Regional District (Area 'K' Director Rick Mumford)

Other Information:

• Doors to the hearing room open at 9 a.m. each day. At this time, late registration will be taken for those that wish to present to the panel in the general sessions (subject to availability).

• Late registration will also be taken at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for those that wish to present to the panel in the evening session (subject to availability).

• There will be a lunch break at 12 p.m. each day.

• The General Hearing Session Monday begins with opening comments from the Panel Chair and preliminary matters and motions.

• Taseko Mines’ presentation on March 22 is expected to be 60-90 minutes, followed by questions.