Williams Lake, B.C.: Today, the Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) has released a mining policy that affirms its jurisdiction over mineral resources in its Territory, its responsibilities to protect Tŝilhqot’in nen (lands and resources) for future generations, and outlines how responsible mining may occur in the Tsilhqot’in territory. The draft policy underwent public engagement in 2014 and has been in practice since that time.

The Tŝilhqot’in Nation has created the mining policy to communicate and protect Tŝilhqot’in values about nen, exercise and assert its Title and Rights to all its resources, provide greater certainty for mining and exploration companies, and ensure the meaningful participation of Tŝilhqot’in in exploration. The first objective of the mining policy it to reduce negative impacts to Tŝilhqot’in communities and the nen.

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). Since 2014, the
signing of the Nenqay Deni Accord and the Gwets’en Nilt’i Pathway Agreement have supported Tŝilhqot’in efforts to secure recognition of its jurisdiction to nen and have enabled a growing capacity to steward and manage Tŝilhqot’in Territory.