Ts’ka7 Warriors Burn Down Imperial Metals Ruddock Creek Mine Bridge

Warrior Publications received the following communique:
Secwepemc Ts’ka7 Warriors deactivate Imperial Metals Ruddock Creek mine road.
International Statement, October 14, 2014

With much discussion with Elders Councils and around Sacred fires and ceremonies the Secwepemc Ts’ka7 Warriors have acted out their collective responsibility and jurisdiction to and in the Ts’ka7 area by deactivating the Imperial Metals Ruddock Creek mine road.

Imperial Metals Corporation never asked for or received free, prior and informed consent to operate in Secwepemc Territory.  The Imperial Metals Mount Polley mine disaster, in the area known as Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe, the absolute destruction and devastation of our Territory has never been answered for.  No reparations have been made.    Instead Imperial Metals continues to force through another mine in our Territory while criminalizing the Klabona Keepers of the Tahltan Nation also exerting their jurisdictional and withholding consent from the same company.

Tahltan end blockade of Red Chris Mine

Tahtlan, members of Secwepemc delegation and comrades from Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp blockade Red Chris Mine site, Sept 29, 2014.

Northwest B.C. mine blockade ends for now

Terrace Standard, Oct 15, 2014

A group of Tahltan and others who had been blocking access to the nearly-completed Red Chris copper mine owned by Imperial Metals have, for now, stopped their action.

The decision earlier this week followed the granting to Imperial Metals of an interim junction to stop the blockade and, as of Oct. 14, an enforcement order which could have resulted in the arrest of people at the blockade.

Blockade could shut mine: Imperial Metals

Tahtlan, members of Secwepemc delegation and comrades from Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp blockade Red Chris Mine site, Sept 29, 2014.

By Michael Mui, 24 Hours Vancouver, Oct 5, 2014

Imperial Metals is applying in court to have Mounties come and remove First Nations blockaders who have closed off access roads to its Red Chris gold and copper project in northwest B.C.

In an Oct. 3 filing, Imperial subsidiary Red Chris Development Company Ltd. said the blockaders — from the Klabona Keepers and the Secwepemc — “will not allow anyone or any supplies through” to reach the project site.

“An enforcement order is required as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have taken the position that they will not enforce a court order for an injunction without an enforcement order,” Imperial said.

Imperial Metals seeks court injunction to arrest Klabona Keeper Elders

UNCEDED TAHLTAN TERRITORY, BC – October 3, 2014

On October 3, 2014 Imperial Metals, the company responsible for the Mt. Polly disaster, has requested an injunction notice to remove the Klabona Keepers elders and supporters from blockading the road to the Red Chris mine in Tahltan territory. Once the court injunction is served the elders and supporters will have 24 hours to leave the area or they will face arrest.

Video of Tahltan blockade against Imperial Metals Red Chris Mine

Tahtlan blockade Imperial Metals’ Red Chris Mine

Tahtlan, members of Secwepemc delegation, and comrades from Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp blockade Red Chris Mine site, Sept 29, 2014.

from Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp, Sept 29, 2014

On Day 56 of the disaster we are burning. The sacred fire lit by the Secwepemc women on August 18th 2014 at the Imperial Metals Mount Polley Mine site has spread, is spreading.

We spend the morning at the Klabona Keepers hunting blockade finalizing plans and then acting them out. It’s time. After our presentation and meeting on Imperial Metals Mount Polley mine, the Klabona Keepers, the Tahltan elders come to a consensus decision. Now is the time to mobilize.

Imperial Metals Vancouver office vandalized

The building that houses Imperial Metals, located at 580 Hornby Street in Vancouver, BC, vandalized with graffiti warning of another potential mining disaster at the Red Chris mine in northern BC.

Webinar on Indigenous Resistance to the Mount Polley Mining Disaster

Mount Polley mine tailings spill nearly 70 per cent bigger than first estimated

Mount Polley tailings pond breach.

By Gordon Hoekstra, Vancouver Sun, September 3, 2014

Imperial Metals’ estimate of the size of the spill from its Mount Polley mine tailings dam collapse is nearly 70 per cent greater than the initial estimate.

The B.C. government has estimated that 10 million cubic metres of water and 4.5 million cubic meters of finely ground rock containing potentially-toxic metals was released by the collapse of the dam on Aug. 4.

But Imperial Metals has estimated the size of the spill at 10.6 million cubic metres of water, 7.3 million cubic metres of tailings and 6.5 million cubic metres of “interstitial” water. That’s enough water and material to fill nearly 9,800 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Secwepemc establish checkpoint and camp to monitor Mount Polley disaster

Press Release from Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp, August 21, 2014

The Secwepemc have established a monitoring checkpoint and encampment at the entrance of the Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley Mine where, on August 4th 2014, the largest environmental disaster in British Columbia’s history unfolded as the damn to the mine’s tailings pond broke and unleashed 2.5 billion gallons of contaminated water and 4.5 million cubic metres of metals laden silt into Hazeltine Creek, Polley Lake and Quesnel Lake on the way to the Fraser River Watershed.