Outside the Yukon Courts building in downtown Whitehorse. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation is taking the Yukon government to court over changes to placer and quartz mining regulations.
The First Nation says the amendments, which let mining projects extend operations beyond their original approvals, were passed without consultation. They add that the changes put both the environment and their treaty rights at risk.
“Placer mining is an important part of the Dawson City economy and many of our citizens work in the industry. But mineral activities within our Traditional Territory cannot come at the expense of our treaty rights and interests,” said Hähkè Darren Taylor in a Jan. 29 press release.
In a press release announcing the changes last May, the Yukon government says it was a temporary measure aimed at keeping projects moving while dealing with a backlog of permits. According to the release, about 50 placer mining and four quartz exploration projects were affected.
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in filed their claim in the Yukon Supreme Court on Jan. 28, seeking to overturn the amendments and secure damages for harm to the First Nation and its citizens.
