Xat艣奴ll First Nation says it is 鈥渧ery disappointed鈥� in the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals for permitting the Cariboo Gold Project without the nation鈥檚 prior consent.  

In a press release dated Nov. 21, Xat艣奴ll noted the ministry did not meet with the nation, on whose territory the project operates in Central Interior B.C., prior to approving the permit.

The nation said it would consider its legal options in response to the permit, which provided without their consent counters the government's commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

鈥淭he government must honour its commitments and truly collaborate with Xat艣奴ll in a respectful and inclusive manner and in alignment with UNDRIP," noted the release. "That means immediately moving to consent- based decision-making with Xat艣奴ll in relation to major permits and authorization for mines in our Territory.鈥� 

Xat艣奴ll said it would like to see sustainable resource development in its territory but will only provide consent for the Cariboo Gold Project once outstanding concerns are appropriately addressed in a meaningful way.  

Xat艣奴ll First Nation is located 20 kilometres north of Williams Lake and is one of 17 remaining Secw茅pemc (Shuswap) Nations.

Cariboo Gold Project properties in Wells, B.C. are located on several traditional First Nation territories including that of Xat艣奴ll First Nation.

The permitting process began in October 2023 after an environmental assessment certificate was issued for the project, prior to which Xat艣奴ll First Nation sent a letter of non-consent to the province. The province responded to Xat艣奴ll鈥檚 non-consent letter by explaining how the nation鈥檚 concerns would be addressed throughout the permitting process, but the nation continued to withhold its consent because there remained outstanding issues with water management and quality.

Nevertheless, the government issued an environmental assessment certificate, making the Cariboo Gold Project the first to be entirely assessed under the new Environmental Assessment Act, brought into force in 2019. In a letter explaining their decision, the ministers responsible for issuing the certificate wrote they believed the nation was comfortable with the approval of a certificate for the project.

鈥淴at艣奴ll sent an additional letter indicating that they do not oppose the Project,鈥� it wrote after stating it met with the nation to hear its perspective. 鈥淲ith this additional discussion and commitment to Xat艣奴ll, we are of the understanding that Xat艣奴ll is comfortable with the issuance of a Certificate to Cariboo Gold,鈥� the letter writes.

On Nov. 7 Xat艣奴ll called for a halt in the permitting process until the nation鈥檚 outstanding concerns were addressed.

When asked why the nation continues to oppose the project, Xat艣奴ll told Black Press Media it was 鈥渓ed to believe鈥� outstanding issues would be addressed in the permitting process.

鈥淗owever, after working through those processes over the past year, we are not satisfied that our concerns have been meaningfully addressed,鈥� the nation wrote, adding it never did provide its consent.