Two groups of First Nations leaders are calling for a moratorium on placer mining claims and leases.
The First Nations Leadership Council and BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council, are asking for the modernization of outdated mining regulations.
Placer mining refers to the extraction of minerals from riverbeds and streams and follows 19th-century gold rush laws according to the pair.
They say that because of that, mining laws ignore Indigenous rights and have adverse environmental impacts.
Though their calls echo a sentiment issued last year following a First Nations Summit Chiefs in Assembly meeting.
A report on the impacts of placer mining and why they feel a moratorium is needed was completed by the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Centre and can be found at this link.
Comments