Prince George, B.C. – First Nations leaders say the damage caused one year ago by the Mount Polley Tailings Pond failure was monumental and they are sounding a warning about a false optimism being spread in some quarters.

Soda Creek (Xat’sull) Chief Donna Dixon and Williams Lake Indian Band Chief Ann Louie say  the premature reopening of the mine last month while important studies are still outstanding leave communities with uncertainty that the problems have been fixed.

“This last year has hugely affected our community, and businesses, workers, leadership – and it has only just begun,” said Chief Dixon. “We can understand that mine employees want to get back to work, but it needs to be done right if those jobs are to be secure and we are to avoid new problems. The Aug. 4, 2014, disaster has taken up the majority of our time and taken away from other important aspects of our community. We need to ensure that this continues to be a lesson to everyone, especially government and industry, that things must change.”

Chief Louie says “The events of Aug. 4th last year and the subsequent focus on mining practices and regulations in BC have made it clear the mining industry requires greater scrutiny. Families had their livelihoods destroyed. The lands and waters have been impacted forever. Quesnel and Polley Lakes will never be the same. The salmon fishery has suffered a major impact.”

Chiefs Dixon and Louie said the BC government has take some positive steps, including First Nations representation on the code review panel, and signing a Letter of Understanding with their two First Nations that created a framework for pursuing key reforms covering such matters as management of tailings facilities,  the free entry exploration system and the environmental assessment processes.  But, they said, the proof of the Government’s commitment will be in its actions.

“We have worked very hard over the last year to have BC hold the company to its obligations to clean up the impacted areas and thought we were making some progress, but the premature re-opening of the mine before all the facts are in is a serious concern to us.” said Chief Louie.

Chief Louie pointed out there has only been an interim opening of the Mount Polley mine and said no  permanent re-opening  will be possible without First Nation consent – and that can only be earned if the  outstanding issues are genuinely addressed to their satisfaction.

The Chiefs were supported in their comments by the BC First Nation Summit’s Grand Chief Ed John, who said: “The anniversary of the breach of the tailings facility at Mount Polley is a grim reminder of the risks in the mining industry of what can go wrong even where there are standards and government oversight.  We must learn from this tragedy which impacted communities, waterways, animals and fish and not allow it to happen again.”