The Tahltan central government (TCG) has provided notice to Doubleview Gold (TSXV: DBG) that the Tahltan Nation opposes the company’s continued operations at its Hat property within Tahltan Territory 95 km southwest of Dease Lake, B.C. The Nation identifies the area as being highly sensitive.
In 2021, the TCG and Doubleview entered into a communications and engagement agreement that covers exploration and development activities within Tahltan Territory, but unresolved conflicts and disagreements have arisen concerning how to protect the sensitive area.
The Tahltan Nation generally supports mining and exploration in its Territory, but it insists these activities be carried out in a manner that respects the Tahltan Nation’s inherent rights and decision-making practices. As Canadian law moves towards the standard of free, prior, and informed consent, as is recognized by British Columbia's passing of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, the Tahltan Nation expects that the province will take steps to ensure that Doubleview is not granted any further permits or interests within Tahltan Territory.
The objection comes as the TCG and province are undertaking a major Territory-wide land use planning initiative and pursuing a government-to-government framework to recognize the jurisdiction of the Tahltan Nation within Tahltan Territory.
The Hat deposit was discovered by Doubleview in early 2014 during a greenfield prospecting and drilling program. The company says that the porphyry deposit, besides containing copper and gold, holds cobalt scandium, nickel, platinum group metals, and zinc.
