June 5, 2025 – Williams Lake, BC
Tŝilhqot’in announce historic agreement with B.C. and Taseko Mines for Teẑtan Biny / Fish Lake
The Tŝilhqot’in Nation has reached a historic agreement with the Province and Taseko Mines Limited (Taseko) that resolves the long-standing conflict at Teẑtan Biny (Fish Lake) by requiring the consent of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation for any mining activity in the area.
The Teẑtan Biny Gagaghut’i (Teẑtan Biny Agreement) establishes binding legal commitments to undertake consent-based decision-making processes for any mining activity at Teẑtan Biny.
In particular, the Tŝilhqot’in Nation and Taseko have reached an agreement under which no mineral exploration or mine development can occur on the New Prosperity mineral tenures without the free, prior informed consent of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation. Additionally, the Province and the Tŝilhqot’in Nation have entered an agreement that requires the consent of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation for any mine in the Teẑtan Area that is a reviewable project under the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) to proceed. The Province is seeking Orders in Council to prescribe this agreement under s. 7 of the EAA and to authorize negotiations with the Tŝilhqot’in Nation to set out the process for how this requirement for Tŝilhqot’in Nation consent would be addressed in any potential environmental assessment process.
Teẑtan Biny and Nabas (the surrounding area) is a place of profound spiritual and cultural importance for the Tŝilhqot’in people. This historic agreement is the culmination of three decades of resistance by Tŝilhqot’in leaders, elders, members and allies to protect Teẑtan Biny and Nabas from a massive open-pit copper-gold mine proposed by Taseko. Unwavering Tŝilhqot’in opposition contributed to the rejection of both the Prosperity and New Prosperity Mine proposals by the Government of Canada in 2010 and 2014, respectively, and a court injunction preventing Taseko from carrying out an extensive drilling program as approved by the Province in 2017.
The Agreement also establishes a land use planning process for the area declared by the Tŝilhqot’in Nation as Dasiqox Nexwagwezʔan (“There for Us”) on Oct. 4, 2014. The process will aim to establish clear land use direction that reflects the Tŝilhqot’in Nation’s vision and goals for Dasiqox Nexwagwezʔan, protects the ecological, cultural and economic sustainability of the area, and balances other interests of the Province, non-Tŝilhqot’in residents, neighbours, stakeholders and others in a positive way. A shared goal of Dasiqox Nexwagwezʔan is to express Tŝilhqot’in Aboriginal rights and empower Tŝilhqot’in laws, governance, and management systems.
The path forward also includes the termination of all litigation related to the proposed New Prosperity mine. Taseko has agreed not to undertake any further exploration or mine development on the New Prosperity mineral tenures. Any further mineral exploration and development undertaken by other proponents in the future will require Tŝilhqot’in consent, consistent with the agreement between Taseko Mines Limited and Tŝilhqot’in Nation.
The Tŝilhqot’in National Government is the governing body for the Tŝilhqot’in people. The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is comprised of six communities located throughout the Tŝilhqot’in (Chilcotin) territory and is the only Nation in Canada with a court declaration of Aboriginal title (Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia).
“We fought for decades to protect the Teẑtan Biny area from mining proposals that threatened our Tŝilhqot’in values and way of life. The Teẑtan Biny Gagaghut’i is something that we can all be proud of. Our rights of free, prior informed consent are protected at Teẑtan Biny. To our members, our elders, our past leadership, our allies, First Nations across BC and Canada, and everyone that has supported us over the years, nexwechanalhyagh (we thank you).”
— Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Otis Guichon, Tribal Chief, Tŝilhqot’in National Government
“This Agreement protects our rights of consent in the Teẑtan Area. That’s huge. For over three decades, we’ve had conflict in the Teẑtan Area. For my oldest son, for many Tŝilhqot’in, that conflict has always been there, for their entire lives. Now we are turning the page. Tŝilhqot’in consent is protected: there is no longer the threat of exploration or mining without our consent. I hold my hands up to everyone that worked hard over the past five years to achieve this historic agreement that reflects true reconciliation, including the Province and Taseko Mines Limited. This is a time to celebrate for our people and honour all those who made this resolution possible.”
— Nits’ilʔin Roger William, Xeni Gwet’in
“This is a historic moment for our people and for reconciliation in British Columbia and Canada. It shows what is possible when we come together in the right spirit to resolve even the deepest conflict. I am honoured to be part of a resolution that finally respects Tŝilhqot’in rights and jurisdiction in the Teẑtan Area, after a generation of conflict. I am grateful that we can move forward as Tŝilhqot’in in a positive way and put our energy and attention into our own priorities as a Nation.”
— Nits’ilʔin Lennon Solomon, Yuneŝit’in
“This has been a long time coming. We look forward to implementing this Agreement, where our free, prior informed consent in this area is fundamentally respected and in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is an important step and a model for the rest of this country, showing how our Indigenous rights and our human rights can be respected.”
— Nits’ilʔin Francis Laceese, Vice-Chief, Tŝilhqot’in National Government
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Links:
Contact:
Myanna Desaulniers
Director of Operations
myanna@tsilhqotin.ca
250 305 7885
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