June Ong's Blog

This is an interesting dichotomy where a company’s rights to mine land and the rights of the First Nations people are in conflict. The Canadian government recognizes the rights of the First Nations people to their traditional practices and self government. In this situation, the company Taseko has plans to mine a large swath of Chilcoltin. However, the A.B.C. First Nations have other plans. They hope to declare a vast area of Chicoltin as a tribal park, including the mining area that Taseko had its eyes on. The net result is that Taseko’s plan is in jeopardy because their management most likely did not anticipate this declaration by the First Nations. Through this article and some basic knowledge on Canadian history, I realize that Taseko and the First Nations must work together to come to an agreeable and amicable resolution. It appears that Taseko did not do their due diligence and consider external factors in their decision making process. This serves as an important reminder that in business knowing the local laws, practices and traditions are crucial factors in decision making.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Unilateral+park+declared+Tsilhqot+includes+Prosperity+mine/10192766/story.html