Whitehorse Daily Star

Exploration proposal has attracted strong dissent

Amid staunch opposition,

By Chuck Tobin on May 26, 2016

Amid staunch opposition, a mineral exploration project on Jubilee Mountain along the Atlin Road has been recommended for approval – with strict conditions.

The Teslin office of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Board issued its recommendation to the Yukon government Wednesday evening.

The Department of Energy, Mines and Resources now has 30 days to accept, reject or alter the recommendation.

Strategic Metals Inc. is proposing a four-year program that includes exploration drilling and digging exploration trenches across its 64 quartz mineral claims on Jubilee Mountain.

Much of the opposition focused on concern for the protected Carcross caribou herd which has been under a recovery program for almost 30 years.

In fact, concern for the Carcross caribou was cited as the primary factor earlier this month when the Teslin office rejected a proposal for a placer mining operation along Judas Creek, east of the Alaska Highway.

Much of the same opposition raised in the Judas Creek proposal was restated in submissions on the Jubilee Mountain project.

Both the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the Taku River Tlingit First Nation of Atlin are opposing the Jubilee Mountain proposal, as they did with the Judas Creek proposal.

The Carcross/Tagish First Nation insists it has a constitutionally enshrined right to protect traditional food sources. It has emphasized members of the First Nation have voluntarily not hunted Carcross caribou for 27 years to assist with the herd’s recovery.

The Taku River Tlingits have also expressed dire concern over the impact the project would have on the herd.

The Tlingits have also emphasized Jubilee Mountain is part of its traditional territory, which has not been surrendered through any form of a land claim settlement.

The Yukon government is fully aware the transboundary claim is alive and valid, and remains unresolved, says the submission by the Taku River Tlingits.

“The TRTFN concludes that the project represents a serious infringement to the TRTFN aboriginal rights and title, and the Taku River Tlingit strongly oppose the proposal to explore Jubilee Mountain at this time,” says the Tlingits’ three-page submission, the sentence underlined for emphasis.

The assessment board acknowledges the area is used by the Carcross caribou herd, though it says Jubilee Mountain is not as important to the caribou as other areas.

It is not a priority migration route, and is not critical winter range, the assessment board points out.

In the Judas Creek assessment, the area was described as an important and often used migration route for the caribou to move between their summer and winter range, and it was described as important winter habitat.

While Environment Yukon recommended the Judas Creek application be rejected, it said the impact of the Jubilee Mountain project could be mitigated if stringent conditions were followed.

Environment Yukon noted in its submission, for instance, that Strategic Minerals indicated it could be working through October. But the caribou rutting season begins in mid-September, when bulls are already stressed, the department points out.

Environment Yukon says any additional stress on the caribou, such as what may be caused by the exploration work, could have serious implications for the rut and ultimately the success of reproduction.

Strategic Metals was applying to work from June 1 through to Oct. 30.

The assessment board is recommending the company be required to begin work no earlier than June 15 to avoid disturbance during the spring calving season.

It’s recommending the company cease operations no later than Sept. 15 to avoid disturbance during the fall rut.

Strategic Metals was applying to use an existing 12-kilometre access route, as well as build five kilometres of new access trails, while also relying on one or two helicopter flights a month.

The assessment board is recommending access to the project area should be by helicopter only.

“No existing/new off-claim access trails shall be upgraded or developed by the proponent,” says one of 17 conditions being recommended by the assessment board

Almost all 18 written submissions to the assessment board voiced opposition to the project, or reluctance at best.

The Tagish Local Advisory Council said it was opposing the project to reflect the general feeling of the community.

Others pointed out Jubilee Mountain is an important recreational area.

There was concern the exploration project would affect existing use, including existing traplines.

Jubilee Mountain overlooks the Tagish community. For many, it offers a wilderness view out their front window, a view that would be tarnished by the presence of drills and other industrial activity, it was said in submissions.

It was also pointed out there is a substantial grizzly bear population on Jubilee Mountain.

Comments (10)

Up 0 Down 1

BillyW on Jun 1, 2016 at 7:01 pm

@prosciencegreenie What your University should have taught you is to do due diligence when commenting on a subject. I am convinced you have no idea bout the 'Caibou' but are willing to go with your ill-informed opinion hoping you are correct which you are not. Science is not guesswork.

Up 4 Down 2

ProScience Greenie on Jun 1, 2016 at 2:49 pm

Fossilized raft - that's hilarious. Thankfully university set me straight on the difference between science and mythology.

As far as the caibou go, if you don't shoot them or run them over and keep projects small and developed under modern made-in-the-Yukon regs the herd will prosper.

As far as place names and the history of that land and the people goes, it is indeed fascinating but no more or less than any other people's history on the planet. Not being an expert on it should not disqualify one from having an opinion. Nor should not being a member of that FN.

Up 6 Down 9

fossilizedraft on May 31, 2016 at 9:32 am

Lets face it prosciencegreenie is anti enviroment with no science.
Jubilee mountain harbours the remains of a fossilized raft from the time of the flood, approx 14000 years ago. That in itself is a First Nation claim post, and it should be a world heritage site.

Tell me Sciencegreenie, what are the Tagish names of the mountains in the Southern Lakes? What do you know about the Traditional Land rights of the Daklawedi and Deisheetan Nations?
Nothing! You are a Johnny come lately ignorant of the history of the Yukon.

Up 5 Down 5

I Question on May 30, 2016 at 8:54 pm

Proscience Greenie: Your expertise on caribou was attained how??? That's what I thought. Just like a lot of your expertise on other matters.

Up 11 Down 5

ProScience Greenie on May 30, 2016 at 7:16 am

The only exploitation occurring here is that of the Southern Lakes Caribou Herd by the nimbys and anti-everything eco-bullies that use the herd as an excuse to stop anything mining. The herd is fine and this project and the Judas Creek
proposed placer project will have zero impact. Traffic collision, wolves and poaching are the real threats.

If they don't want mining they need to just come out and say so and push for a ban rather than using fear and exaggeration and bully tactics to get their way.

Or how about creating a big park. Parks offer the only true protection for the environment. Sadly they would probably oppose a park in their backyard which is not being very green in my opinion.

Up 9 Down 8

...and another thing! on May 29, 2016 at 6:09 am

BillyW "Get educated" from the communist broadcasting corporation?
Kinda like taking driving tips from Stevie Wonder.

Up 11 Down 7

BillyW on May 26, 2016 at 9:37 pm

If you are sure that ceasing operation during the spring calving season would be enough to ensure the survival of the Caribou heard then you know more than all the biologists in Alberta. Please go to www.cbc.ca/thenatureofthings - click on episodes - scroll until you find 'Billion Dollar Caribou' watch it and get educated.

Up 10 Down 24

Joe on May 26, 2016 at 5:29 pm

What bugs me the most about these stupid exploration proposals not only near residential areas but in sensitive wildlife areas is the fact nobody thinks about the "what if". What if they find a feasible ore body ? Then we're up against a large scale economy vs environment argument in an area that should never be touched to begin with. There are plenty of good mining grounds far from residential areas and not in sensitive areas. All other areas should be off limits.

Up 12 Down 16

jc on May 26, 2016 at 4:49 pm

Getting tired of hearing about these poor caribou. Its already been proved that more of them die every year on the hoof from disease then are hunted. If the FN want to do something for society, cull them and send the meat to developing countries to feed their poor. They could be farmed like any other domestic animal. And that is not racist just good economic sense.

Up 30 Down 17

YTer on May 26, 2016 at 4:01 pm

Ok, the small scale placer operation on Judas creek gets shut down, and this gets the green light. Hmmmmm, something stinks. Beyond stinks. Something is putrid.

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