Previous Webinars
Webinar on Mine Waste Safety - No More Mount Polley Disasters!
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Whether for gold, copper, lithium, or other mining, is it possible to safely manage mine waste and prevent catastrophic spills? What is the aftermath of these mine waste disasters for the affected communities? How do the regulations of one of Canada’s main mining jurisdictions, British Colombia, compare with best standards, including the new Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management (a.k.a. People’s Tailings Standard)?
Watch the recording of the webinar below! |
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Photo credits Adriano Machado, Chris Blake,
SkeenaWild Conservation Trust, and Aitik Gällivare
SkeenaWild Conservation Trust, and Aitik Gällivare
You can also watch the webinar on Facebook, here.
SPEAKERS
Bev Sellars (Canada)
Former acting chief of the Xat’sull (Soda Creek) First Nation, British Columbia, when her community was directly affected by the Mount Polley mine disaster in 2014, and former chairperson of the First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining
Jan Morrill (U.S.A)
Tailings safety campaign coordinator at Earthworks, and co-author of Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management
Dr. Steven Emerman (U.S.A)
Owner of Malach Consulting, specializing in evaluating the environmental impacts of mining for companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations, and co-author of Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management
Dr. David Chambers (U.S.A)
Founder and president of the Center for Science in Public Participation (CSP2), co-author of Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management
Deborah Curran (Canada)
Executive Director of the Environmental Law Centre and Associate Professor at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, and co-author of the BC Mining Law Reform regulatory platforms
Nikki Skuce (Canada)
Director at Northern Confluence in Smithers, British Columbia, and co-founder of the BC Mining Law Reform Network
BACKGROUND
Today’s mining industry generates more waste than all the solid waste sent to landfills by the largest cities in North America – billions of tons every year, much of it toxic. Mine waste sites are failing with increased frequency and severity (e.g. GRID-UNEP 2017, WMTF 2019, CSP2 2020, WU 2020). Current industry standards do not go far enough to adequately protect communities and ecosystems from these dam failures and toxic pollution. The design, construction, operation and closure of tailings facilities require significant changes to protect people and the environment. On August 4, 2014, a tailings dam breach at the Mount Polley mine in central British Columbia released 24 million cubic metres of mining waste into nearby salmon-rich lakes and rivers of the Fraser River watershed. How far as B.C. come to prevent future mine waste spills, and how does it measure against the new Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management (a.k.a. People’s Tailings Standard)?
HOSTS, PARTNERS & ORGANIZERS
B.C. Mining Law Reform Network
Center for Science in Public Participation
Earthworks
Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria
First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining
Malach Consulting
MiningWatch Canada
Northern Confluence
Salmon Beyond Borders
Bev Sellars (Canada)
Former acting chief of the Xat’sull (Soda Creek) First Nation, British Columbia, when her community was directly affected by the Mount Polley mine disaster in 2014, and former chairperson of the First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining
Jan Morrill (U.S.A)
Tailings safety campaign coordinator at Earthworks, and co-author of Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management
Dr. Steven Emerman (U.S.A)
Owner of Malach Consulting, specializing in evaluating the environmental impacts of mining for companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations, and co-author of Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management
Dr. David Chambers (U.S.A)
Founder and president of the Center for Science in Public Participation (CSP2), co-author of Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management
Deborah Curran (Canada)
Executive Director of the Environmental Law Centre and Associate Professor at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, and co-author of the BC Mining Law Reform regulatory platforms
Nikki Skuce (Canada)
Director at Northern Confluence in Smithers, British Columbia, and co-founder of the BC Mining Law Reform Network
BACKGROUND
Today’s mining industry generates more waste than all the solid waste sent to landfills by the largest cities in North America – billions of tons every year, much of it toxic. Mine waste sites are failing with increased frequency and severity (e.g. GRID-UNEP 2017, WMTF 2019, CSP2 2020, WU 2020). Current industry standards do not go far enough to adequately protect communities and ecosystems from these dam failures and toxic pollution. The design, construction, operation and closure of tailings facilities require significant changes to protect people and the environment. On August 4, 2014, a tailings dam breach at the Mount Polley mine in central British Columbia released 24 million cubic metres of mining waste into nearby salmon-rich lakes and rivers of the Fraser River watershed. How far as B.C. come to prevent future mine waste spills, and how does it measure against the new Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management (a.k.a. People’s Tailings Standard)?
HOSTS, PARTNERS & ORGANIZERS
B.C. Mining Law Reform Network
Center for Science in Public Participation
Earthworks
Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria
First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining
Malach Consulting
MiningWatch Canada
Northern Confluence
Salmon Beyond Borders
Western Transboundary Watersheds and the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
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Despite years of concern from Tribes and First Nations, scientists, businesses, residents and stakeholders across international lines, and unanimous calls upon the federal governments to enforce the Boundary Waters Treaty due to ongoing and threatened pollution from B.C. mines, the U.S. Department of State and Global Affairs Canada have yet to honor their mutual obligations to protect our shared transboundary watersheds and establish a binational process that involves Tribes and First Nations.
Join us for an unprecedented dialogue between members of the U.S.-Canada International Joint Commission, Indigenous Leadership, and key stakeholders on U.S./B.C. transboundary watersheds and the threats they face from large-scale B.C. mines. When: Thursday, May 14, 2020 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Alaska time, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. PST Where: VIEW RECORDING HERE This will be the first time these Indigenous leaders connect across borders and state lines regarding pollution from B.C.’s large-scale mines at the headwaters of rivers that flow into the United States (U.S) To meet the panelists and learn more about the upcoming webinar, read more below. |
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Meet the Panelists
IJC Commissioner Merrell-Ann Phare
Merrell-Ann Phare is a lawyer, writer, strategist, negotiator and relationship-builder who worked extensively in and with indigenous organizations on environmental, land, water, rights and governance issues. She, along with 10 First Nation Chiefs, was the founding Executive Director of the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), a national First Nation charitable environmental organisation. She resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
IJC Commissioner Rob Sisson
Robert Sisson has been involved with the environmental organization ConservAmerica since 2006, where he has served as president since 2011, and more recently was appointed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to the state’s Environmental Justice Working Group in 2017. Sisson lives in Bozeman, Montana.
President Richard Peterson, Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Richard (Chalyee Éesh) Peterson is Tlingit from the Kaagwaantaan clan. He grew up in Kasaan, Alaska and is a lifelong Alaska Native resident of Southeast Alaska. Prior to being elected as President of the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) in 2014, Richard served as Chief Executive Officer of Prince of Wales Tribal Enterprise Consortium, LLC (POWTEC), President of the Organized Village of Kasaan (OVK), Mayor/City Council Member for the City of Kasaan, and member of the Southeast Island School District Board of Education.
Chairwoman Shelly Fyant, Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe of Montana
Shelly Fyant was elected as the Chairwoman of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes in January 2020. She previously served a four year term on Tribal Council and served as Secretary. She has four adult sons, six granddaughters, one grandson and a great granddaughter. Her passion is Food Sovereignty and she is active in the MMIP movement.
Chairman Gary Aitken Jr., Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
Gary Aitken Jr. is Chairman of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.
"Recognizing that all things are connected has led to the Kootenai Tribe being innovators in ecosystem recovery. The holistic approach that comes natural to our people has provided a clear path forward in our species restoration efforts. We, as a Tribe, are proud of the remarkable ecosystem work we have been able to accomplish." – Gary Aitken Jr.
Chairwoman Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation
Ms. Kathryn Teneese is the Ktunaxa Nation Chair as well as Chief Negotiator for the ongoing treaty negotiations with Canada and British Columbia. Ms. Teneese’s active participation in public service began in the late 1960’s at the Columbia Lake Band (now known as the Akisq’nuk First Nation) as a Band Councillor and Band Manager, and then later as the Area Coordinator for the organization now known as the Ktunaxa Nation Council.
Allen Edzerza, First Nations Energy and Mining Council
Allen is currently leading mining reform discussions with the Government of British Columbia on behalf of the First Nation Energy and Mining Council. Allen worked with the Gordon Foundation to develop an IBA Community Toolkit and assisted in conducting workshops with First Nations on the IBA Community Toolkit across Canada. Allen was appointed to the Office of the Premier, Government of British Columbia as Special Advisor on Aboriginal issues. Allen is a member of the Tahltan Nation and a recognized artist with works in several major collections.
Tis Peterman, Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission
Tis Peterman is a lifelong resident of Wrangell, Alaska situated at the mouth of the Stikine River. She is Tlingit, of the Raven moiety and is a Kaa.chadi clan member. She is the great granddaughter of Chief Shakes VII.Tis has spent most of her career working for non-profits and tribal governments. She is currently employed as executive director for the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission, a position that she has held for three years.
Erin Sexton, University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station
Erin is a Senior Research Scientist with the Flathead Lake Biological Station, at the University of Montana. Erin’s research focus includes transboundary rivers between the US and Canada, with an emphasis on aquatic ecology and conservation biology, in our shared transboundary watersheds, between British Columbia, Alberta and Montana. Erin is involved in coordinating cross-border research, assessment of mining impacts and ecological condition and the application of science to environmental decision-making. Erin lives in NW Montana with her family.
Jill Weitz, Salmon Beyond Borders
Salmon Beyond Borders campaign director Jill Weitz loves living in the Tongass National Forest of Southeast Alaska, where Juneau has been her home for more than a decade. Jill’s interests involve water, from the mountain tops and wild rivers to frozen hockey rinks. She’s worked in Southeast Alaska communities as an AmeriCorps member, from Prudhoe Bay to Ketchikan as a Compliance and Enforcement Officer for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and has worked in communities throughout the Alaska/British Columbia transboundary region for the last six years.
