Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation today signed new leases that will permit Graymont Western Canada Inc. to continue its limestone mining and processing operation on Ts’kw’aylaxw Indian reserves until 2045.
Graymont has operated its limestone quarry and processing plant on Ts’kw’aylaxw lands since 1974 and is the only mining operation on an Indian reserve in all of Canada. The mine is located in Marble Canyon on Highway 99 between Lillooet and Cache Creek.
The new leases have another distinction: they are the first arms-length commercial leases granted in British Columbia under the First Nations Land Management Act, which confers land management powers on those First Nations that opt out of the land management provisions of the Indian Act.
Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation transitioned to the First Nation Land Management Act on May 1, 2004, becoming only the fifth First Nation in British Columbia, and the 14th in Canada, to assume responsibility under the Act for the management of its reserve lands.
“This is a watershed event in our history,” Community Chief Dennis Ned said at the signing ceremony in Lillooet. “We have negotiated and settled these leases on our own, without the Department of Indian Affairs. We have achieved terms that will be better for us from a financial perspective and that will ensure protection of the environment and continued employment for many Ts’kw’aylaxw people.”
Over 50% of the eligible Ts’kw’aylaxw members attended a vote on April 3, 2005 to ratify the new leases, which were approved by a substantial majority.
Negotiations for the new leases began over three years ago but broke down early in the process. The parties returned to the table just over a year ago and have been meeting regularly since then.
The man who led the negotiations for Graymont said that despite an arduous negotiating process, a stronger relationship now exists between Graymont and the Ts’kw’aylaxw leadership, and a different relationship. Garry Kehler, Vice President and General Counsel for Graymont, said after the ceremony that, “Graymont has always been a significant contributor to the Ts’kw’aylaxw community and under the new leases and related agreements it will increase its assistance to the Ts’kw’aylaxw people in building their capacity for the future through education and training.”
Twenty-seven of the thirty-five full time employees working at the site are aboriginal.
Stuart Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer of Graymont, told 100 people gathered for the signing ceremony that the company was proud of its relationship with Ts’kw’aylaxw. “In signing the new leases we are reaffirming our commitment to maintaining a close and successful working relationship with Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation.”
Graymont quarried approximately 190,000 tons of limestone from the site last year, which it converted to lime at the plant and sold in western Canada and Alaska, primarily for use in processing operations at mines, pulp mills and refineries. Lime is described as the “great neutralizer” because it reduces the impacts of these operations on the environment.
Mr. Wolfe said, “The new leases will make it possible for Graymont to continue to invest in its quarry and plant operations. Graymont is planning to invest in improvements at the site that will make our operation more modern and efficient, and minimize the impact the operation has on the surrounding community and the environment.”
In his remarks, Chief Dennis Ned paid tribute to those who had been responsible for bringing the lime plant to the Pavilion reserve in 1974. He praised former Chief Gary Harry, who recalled those early days in his own remarks to the meeting, and former Councillors Georgina Harry and Eugene Edwards.
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For further information contact:
Rhonda Higginbottom
Lands Manager
Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation
P.O. Box 609
Cache Creek, British Columbia
V0K 1H0
Telephone: 250 256-4204
rhonda@tskaylaxw.com
Garry W. Kehler
Vice President and General Counsel
Graymont Western Canada Inc.
Suite 200
10991 Shellbridge Way
Richmond, British Columbia
V6X 3C6
Telephone: (604) 276-1947
gkehler@graymont.com
