Na-Cho Nyak Dun win court challenge against proposed Metallic Minerals quartz mine on their territory in the Yukon

Published by Brent Patterson on June 11, 2024

Photo: “A group of demonstrators, comprised of First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun (FNNND) citizens and allies, rally outside the Yukon Territorial Court ahead of the hearing [in November 2023] for the Yukon government’s appeal of a decision earlier this year to reverse approval of mine exploration work on the First Nation’s traditional territory. (Matthew Bossons/Yukon News).”

APTN reports: “The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun (FNNND) is celebrating a recent court decision over proposed mining exploration on its land.”

That article adds: “In 2021, the territorial government approved a mineral exploration project proposed by Metallic Minerals to go on to the next stage of the approval process. …[The FNNND] took the government to court over a lack of consultation and won in January 2023. In November, the government appealed and argued that the judge erred and that the consultation was conducted properly. However, [the] decision [of the court on Tuesday April 9] states otherwise.”

As CBC News has previously explained, Vancouver-based Metallic Minerals Corp. had proposed “a quartz exploration project to happen over 10 years on 52 claims located north of Mayo [within the traditional territory of the Na-Cho Nyak Dun].”

APTN has also previously noted: “Proposed by Metallic Minerals, the project would entail exploration activities every summer for ten years in the heart of the [Beaver River Watershed], also known as Tsé Tagé.”

And Yukon News reported in March 2021: “Metallic Minerals’ application involves its 52 quartz claims approximately 64 kilometre north of Keno. The claims were staked in 2018 and 2019. The application seeks permission to construct roads and clearings in its claims to support mapping, soil sampling and excavation. It acknowledges that the work ‘might have significant environmental or socio-economic effects’ on the nation’s traditional territory.”

APTN now reports: “Yukon government said it’s reviewing the decision [of April 9 that sides with the Na-Cho Nyak Dun].”

We will continue to follow this.