https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/
First Nation says Coffee Gold owner Goldcorp is hearing its concerns
Leaders from Yukon’s Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation got a tour of Goldcorp’s Coffee Gold project near Dawson City this week — and so far, they like what they’ve seen. The exploration camp at Coffee Creek, about 130 kilometres south of Dawson City, is a busy place these days, with crews already working in shifts 24-hours a day.
In a few years, it could be even busier — Goldcorp is proposing to open a large-scale gold mine by 2021, employing hundreds of people. The project is still under review by the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB).
The Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation is now on board with the project. Last April, it signed a “collaboration agreement” with Goldcorp, which includes a number of benefits for the First Nation — such as jobs, contracts, and training for First Nation citizens.
It also outlines environmental protection commitments. Earlier, the First Nation had complained that Goldcorp was ignoring its concerns, and was trying to push the project forward too quickly.
Now, Chief Roberta Joseph says she’s confident Goldcorp is hearing their concerns. “One of the different things about this project is that it’s more environmentally sustainable in terms of not having a tailings pond,” said Joseph.
For the rest of this article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/coffee-gold-mine-trondek-hwechin-1.4822191