Friends of Fish Lake representative Patricia Spencer was among a group of opponents to the New Prosperity Gold-Copper Project who lobbied in Ottawa, Feb. 11-13.
The 108 Mile Ranch resident says they wanted to state their case to federal officials prior to the decision by Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq and the Conservative cabinet due by the end of the month.
Spencer and Fish Lake Alliance representative Sage Birchwater of Williams Lake joined Chief Joe Alphonse, Tribal Chair for Tsilhqot'in National Government (TNG). Xeni-Gwet'in Chief Roger William, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo and TNG mining, oil and gas manager J.P. Laplante were also members of the group.
Union of BC Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Stewart Phillip also participated in some of the discussions by telephone, she says.
"Sage Birchwater and I went because we wanted to show there are many non-Aboriginal people opposed to the mine. Especially after the environmental report came out on Oct. 1, 2013, [detailing] the significant negative impacts to the environment and First Nations that will be immitigable – they can't be fixed."
Alphonse says his people fear the "scathing" findings of two independent expert review panels will be forgotten amidst the lobbying efforts by Taseko Mines Ltd. and its supporters.
"This fight has been unfairly spun by the company ... as a First Nation versus non-First Nation issue. Well, the truth is that many more non-First Nations spoke out against this project in the public hearings than those in support."
While the group could not speak with Aglukkaq directly, it did meet with her Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Colin Carrie.
Over the three days, the group also met with several NDP and Liberal MPs, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency president Ron Hallman and a half-dozen deputy ministers, Spencer says.
"They certainly listened, as far as the deputy ministers and Dr. Colin Carrie listened. It's hard to say what is going to happen.
"The Opposition MPs weren't very 'hopeful', you might say. They figured government is going to approve it."
That indication was "pretty disappointing" given the "bad, scathing" findings in the panel's report, she adds.
While Spencer notes she can't speak for First Nations, the message as she understands it is, if approved, the mine project will "create more conflict" between government and Aboriginals.
"I think that's the message the Aboriginal people were trying to get across, is that it's time to change the way the government of Canada is working with First Nations. It's time that First Nations were at the table rather than just treated like a stakeholder – that's what I heard."
Spencer notes she thinks, overall, the trip was worthwhile.
If the project isn't rejected, the credibility of the whole environmental review process will be in question, she adds.
"We are hopeful the government of Canada will do the right thing and say ‘no’, [and] turn down this particular proposal. We really think it's time to just let go of this."