Tahltan-BC agreement puts Indigenous consent at centre of permitting process for Skeena’s Eskay Creek

Skeena Resources (TSX: SKE; NYSE: SKE) is welcoming the historic consent-based decision-making agreement reached earlier between the province of British Columbia and the Tahltan Central Government, the political arm of the Tahltan Nation.

Through this agreement, Skeena’s proposed Eskay Creek gold-silver project, which is located in Tahltan territory, will be the first mining project to have permits authorized by an indigenous government. As a formal recognition of the Tahltan Nation’s right to manage resource development decisions within their territory, it represents “a significant step forward” by all parties to implement the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in the environmental assessment process, the company says.

The landmark agreement was also acknowledged by the Association for Mineral Exploration, which advocates for responsible mineral exploration and development through building and sustaining respectful, open, and long-lasting relationships built on trust and mutual understanding. “The signing of this agreement is both a meaningful step toward reconciliation and a demonstration of collaboration between provincial and Indigenous governments and industry in B.C., a world-leading place to explore responsibly,” AME said in a statement.

This historic agreement changes the approach to environmental assessments on the Tahltan Nation’s land by introducing a framework that ensures Tahltan values and rights are respected from the outset. The agreement would also make possible the development of a new model for sustainable mining and world-class environmental practices and standards, leading to unprecedented business certainty of indigenous consent for a mining project.

“As an already developed mine site with existing road access, waste management facilities, nearby access to green power, and robust economics, gaining consent from the Tahltan Nation on whose unceded land Eskay Creek is located, is a crucial step in an efficient approval process for the project,” Justin Himmelright, Skeena’s senior VP of external affairs and sustainability, commented.

The company sees this agreement as an historic step toward recognizing the rights and title of First Nations in B.C. and a major benefit for Eskay Creek. The agreement provides greater certainty and framework for the environmental assessment of the revitalization of the past-producing Eskay Creek mine.

Obtaining legal consent from the Tahltan Nation on the authorization issued by the provincial government, an integral part of Skeena’s ESG (environmental, social and governance) strategy, addresses the question of project authorization on unceded indigenous land. It will further strengthen Skeena’s relationship with the Tahltan Nation and the Nation’s support for the project, the company says.

Skeena recently published its inaugural ESG report to provide a thorough overview of the its ESG practices, commitments and performance, highlighting the importance of “environmental stewardship, social responsibility and strong governance” in sustainable economic development.