Wet’suwet’en First Nation continues to negotiate with Huckleberry Mines Ltd. regarding ongoing issues.
“Wet'suwet'en First Nation and Huckleberry Mines are involved in ongoing discussions regarding the power lines and the gravel access road crossing Wet'suwet'en Reserve No. 7 [Felix George Indian Reserve],” said WFN legal representation Rob Botterell, of Botterell Law Corporation.
“To date no settlement agreement has been concluded,” he added.
Huckleberry Mines Ltd. remains confident that a resolution of long-standing issues can be reached.
“We have been working diligently with WFN on the issues that have been raised,” said Imperial Metals Vice President Steve Robertson.
The Huckleberry mine, an open pit copper/molybdenum mine located south of Houston, B.C., is owned by Huckleberry Mines Ltd. Imperial Metals owns 50 per cent of Huckleberry Mines Ltd. The other 50 per cent of the mine is owned by a consortium of Japanese interests.
On May 1, 2013, WFN issued a ‘stop work’ order against Huckleberry Mines Ltd. to highlight their grievances regarding employment and other financial opportunities.
“We have a clear mandate from our membership to stop this project until our concerns are addressed,” Ogen said at the time. “We have been in negotiations for more than a year and Huckleberry Mines does not wish to conclude agreements that fairly and reasonably address Wet’suwet’en asserted aboriginal rights, title, community interests and concerns.”