British Columbia amps up mining ventures; Native Americans in U.S. and Canada push for 'a seat at the table'

Argonaut Wharf near Campbell River, British Columbia, which calls itself "Salmon Capital of the World," is the primary export outlet for the Myra Falls mine in Strathcona Provincial Park. (Photo by Alex Ratson, Getty Images)

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Native American tribes are asking the U.S. government "to pressure Canada to stop additional mining activity in British Columbia, which they say contaminates waters and threatens Native American ways of life in Alaska, Montana and Idaho," Jacob Fischler reports for States Newsroom.

“BC is moving full-steam ahead with doubling their amount of mines,” Jill Weitz, the natural-resource manager for the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Tribes of Alaska, who was part of the delegation, told Fischler, “Tribes and downstream communities do not have a meaningful seat at the table as it relates to the management of these shared rivers and resources that everyone is dependent upon."

Fischler writes: "British Columbia plans to expand its profitable coal, copper and gold mining industry. . . . Spending on mineral and coal exploration in British Columbia increased by 56% in 2021 over 2020, reaching $660 million, according to a study for the provincial government."

Rich Janssen Jr., head of the Department of Natural Resources for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana and Idaho, told Fischler, "Once mining impacts occur, it’s very difficult to clean them up. We’re not against mining at all, but we’re against mining that doesn’t do the environment justice.”

To support their cause, "The Native American leaders are asking for the countries to refer the matter to the International Joint Commission, a U.S.-Canada partnership created to oversee water issues between the two nations," Fischler writes. However, Weitz told Fischler that "historically [matters] have only been resolved when both countries recognize the need to meet."

Diana Tan, a spokesperson for the Canadian Embassy, told Fischler that "Canadian diplomats met with tribes and other advocates this week for 'constructive discussion' but did not commit to any steps beyond continuing the conversation."