Former chief Ervin Charleyboy would like to host an all First Nations forum about Taseko Mines Ltd.’s New Prosperity Mine proposal to develop an open pit gold-copper mine located 124 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake.
While he has no specific plans in place yet, Charleyboy said there has not been a general assembly for the Tsilhqot’in Nation for more than three years, and he thinks it’s time.
A forum or general assembly would give all First Nations an opportunity to share opinions about the mine.
Charleyboy has consistently voiced support of New Prosperity, although in the past he was dead against it.
“I’m in favour of the mine today,” he said. “Our young people need jobs.”
Charleyboy told the Tribune he wants meet one-on-one with each chief of the six communities within the Tsilhqot’in Nation.
He hopes to find out what each chief thinks about the mine and then widen the discussion to all six communities, which totals around 3,000 residents, he said.
Presently the project’s Environmental Impact Statement is being reviewed by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
It is anticipated the panel hearings for the project will take place some time in the next few months.