The delay in Taseko Mines Ltd.’s $1.1 billion copper-gold mine is caused because of land boundary issues with the First Nations occupying that area. The Tsilhqot’in people have ancestral rights to that area and claim that they need the area to make a living. Taking a part of their land away would cause the First Nation people to lose some of their food supply and will cause contamination around the area as well. The First Nation people are not willing to give up this part of land.
A solution that could be implemented to resolve this conflict is for Taseko to apologize for their mistake and start a brand new relationship with the First Nation people. The ultimate goal of the relationship is not only to win over the First Nation’s heart then take their land away, but also it is to establish some sort of agreement with them.
After reading the page about doing business in BC in Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (aadnc), a good strategy would be to work in alliance with the first nations. This includes giving the First Nation people jobs, paying for the loss of First Nation’s income, and even promising to keep the pollution level around the lake to its minimum.
The bottom line is that Taseko needs to respect the Tsilhqot’in people as these people have occupied the area first and been there for a longer period of time. If they don’t do this, they have a risk of ruining their own company’s name.
work cited:
Pynn, Larry. “Tsilhqot’in Set to Declare Site of New Prosperity Mine a Tribal Park.” Www.vancouversun.com. N.p., 11 Sept. 2014. Web. 07 Oct. 2014. <http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Unilateral%2Bpark%2Bdeclared%2BTsilhqot%2Bincludes%2BProsperity%2Bmine/10192766/story.html>.
“Doing Business with British Columbia First Nations.” Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. <https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca%2Feng%2F1100100021057%2F1100100021061>.