A multi-national mining company has issued a public apology to the Quatsino First Nation for longstanding damage done to its traditional territory during operations of the Island Copper Mine.

The open pit mine is located deep in Quatsino ancestral lands on Northern Vancouver Island, and at one point it became the lowest man-made place in the world during its operations between 1971-1995.

During its 24 years of existence, the mine removed roughly one billion tonnes of ore, before it eventually closed in 1995 and then flooded with ocean water. No royalties were paid to the Quatsino First Nation, and there was no consultation on the project that ultimately destroyed much of the sea life around the beach in front of their village.

Once flush with an abundance of sea life such as urchins, ling cod and abalone, the nation says they were all wiped out by all the dumping of waste rock over the span of the mine害羞草研究所檚 existence.

BHP, who acquired the Island Copper Mine back in 1984, sent a group of representatives to travel to Quatsino to issue a formal apology to the nation on Tuesday evening (Sept. 20).

害羞草研究所淭oday I害羞草研究所檓 honoured and humbled by this invitation to be with you all, and my hope is to convey this sincerity that underlies our visit to your community,害羞草研究所� Kate Sommerville, BHP害羞草研究所檚 general manager, legacy assets, said to the crowd of Quatsino First Nation residents who were in attendance at the community hall. 害羞草研究所淭his is the first visit with you, we hope the first of many.害羞草研究所�

Sommerville noted BHP wanted to acknowledge that the mine is located on the ancestral and traditional unceded land of the Quatsino First Nation.

害羞草研究所淥n behalf of BHP, I come to your territory today to humbly apologize for past actions and shortcomings, and to ask your community for forgiveness. I hope with this apology we can start over, we can rebuild, we can work together for change, so that together we leave a positive legacy for the generations to come.害羞草研究所�

Sommerville added BHP deeply regrets the mine害羞草研究所檚 lack of consultation and involvement with the Quatsino First Nation that has affected their community. She stated past practices at the mine 害羞草研究所渇ell short of the standard of which we aspire to today, and this led to a relationship of mistrust that hindered the development of a collaborative relationship between BHP and the Quatsino First Nation.害羞草研究所�

BHP is promising to collaborate on remediation efforts and environmental monitoring in order to reset the relationship with the nation.

害羞草研究所淲e view this apology as the first step, and we will continue to take meaningful actions to nurture our relationship and to work together in respect, transparency, and collaboration,害羞草研究所� stated Sommerville. 害羞草研究所淚t is our sincere hope that we can move forward together, on the grounds of a refreshed relationship to create a prosperous future for the Quatsino First Nation.害羞草研究所�

Chief Tom Nelson spoke later on that night about how after the mine had started operation, the Quatsino people were left with nowhere to go to harvest food sources.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 my turn to let you all know what BHP did to our food chain out here,害羞草研究所� Nelson said, noting how they used to be able to harvest food for trade at various traditional spots before the mine opened 害羞草研究所渁nd polluted the waters.害羞草研究所�

Nelson continued, stating that due to losing their food chain, 害羞草研究所渢he generation here today, they do not even know how to go out there and harvest any of this stuff because it isn害羞草研究所檛 there for them.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e do have a lot to talk about with BHP to compensate us [for] what we lost, and in the next few days we will be having some heavy duty meetings to discuss [compensation] with BHP,害羞草研究所� added Nelson.

After questions from residents, some visuals of the mine site and affected areas around it were shown via slideshow, before Sommerville was given the mic to issue a response.

害羞草研究所淭hank you for coming tonight to take the time to tell us stories, ask us questions, and also raise concerns,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e have heard a lot this evening, and our team has been taking many notes.害羞草研究所�

Sommerville added BHP will be starting as soon as it can to demolish the infrastructure at the mine site, clean up spillage, and restore the fish habitat so the company can hand the area back to the crown who will 害羞草研究所渉and it back to you.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭oday was our first meeting, and we are going to be continuing discussions tomorrow, and that害羞草研究所檚 when we are going to begin to talk about opportunities for shared value.害羞草研究所�

editor@northislandgazette.com
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