WHITEHORSE, YT – The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun have escalated their calls for a public inquiry into the landslide at the Eagle Gold Mine to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.
The First Nation says after months of attempting to get the Yukon Government to begin a public inquiry into the incident, their efforts have come up with nothing, while the threat to their lands and traditional territory remains.
On December 9th, the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun had formally submitted a request for the Auditor General to begin a performance audit that includes both the the Yukon Government’s and the Government of Canada’s response to the disaster within it’s scope.
The Nation says they’ve documented multiple instances of the Yukon Government’s alleged neglect of it’s duties as the Mine’s regulator, which they say had created unacceptable risk to the First Nation, the public at large, and the environment itself.
In a statement announcing the escalation to the Auditor General’s office, The First Nation said quote” ‘The Eagle Gold Mine crisis is not just about the technical failures; it’s also about Yukon’s failure to responsibly regulate and oversee mining activity’.
The Nation says the Independent Review Board established on August 30th this year does not go far enough, as it’s restricted to the technical details that led to landslide, and does not include a review of the Yukon Government’s actions that may have played a part.
The Yukon NDP Kate White says the Yukon NDP supports the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun in their request.
In a letter addressed to Karen Hogan, the Auditor General of Canada, NDP Leader Kate White says developing a clear understanding of the role the Yukon Government and the Government of Canada had in assessing, regulating, and overseeing the mine is critical in the aftermath of the incident, including their respective roles in the process of devolution in the Yukon as it relates to non-renewable resources.
