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Opposed to North American Alloy's  Magnesium Project   Cogburn Magnesium Project   "We are not prepared to accept the negative impacts this mine will bring to our community and our land" - Chief Maureen Chapman   Skawahlook Frst Nation Press release - Released:10:00 am - March 2003 Skawahlook First Nation Opposed to North American Alloy’s Fraser River Magnesium Project As North American Alloys (formerly Leader Mining) is poised to submit its application for the Cogburn Magnesium Project to the province’s Environmental Assessment Office, the First Nation that stands to be most affected by the development is standing firm in its opposition to the project. The Cogburn Project proposes the development of a magnesium mine eight kilometres east of Harrison lake on Talc Creek, with two processing plants near the Fraser River at Ruby Creek. Each plant will occupy nearly 420 acres of land and one abuts a Skawahlook First Nation Reserve. The land this development will occupy is subject to an aboriginal rights and title claim of the Skawahlook, as it is within the traditional territory of the Sto:lo Nation, of which Skawahloook is a member. “We are not prepared to accept the negative impacts this mine will bring to our community and our land. Magnesium mines represent some of the worst pollution problems in the U.S. We will not have our land and water degraded in this way,” says Chief Maureen Chapman on behalf of the Skawahlook. “A serious indication of the lack of adequate consideration being given our rights is the fact that archaeological study was done regarding impacts of the development on First Nations’ interests and we were not even consulted. This despite the fact the one of the processing plants is to be sited adjacent to one of our residential reserves. If this is an indication of the good faith of the developer, we’re off to a poor start, “ states Chief Chapman. The Skawahlook First Nation have retained Ratcliff & Company, an experienced First Nations law firm, to assess their legal options with regard to this proposal, including litigation, if necessary, to stop the mine from being established. Contact: Chief Maureen Chapman (604) 796-9129 Skawahlook First Nation Greg McDade, Q.C. (604) 988-5201 Ratcliff & Company   Cogburn Magnesium Project North American Alloys has been investigating the possibility of opening a large-scale magnesium extraction and refining facility in the Ruby Creek area, within 3 miles of Skawahlook First Nation. The mining proposal is referred to as the Cogburn Magnesium Project. If successful an estimated 120,000 tonnes of high purity magnesium will be produced at the plant during the next 25 years. The Skawahlook First Nation is firmly opposed to the opening of this plant, as there are many environmental and health hazards associated with magnesium excavation and refining. Improper supervision and regulation of such a large-scale plant can lead to severe polluting of water, land and air. Magnesium has been identified as a major source of Hazardous Air Pollutants including chlorine, hydrochloric acid, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins and furans and trace amounts of Hazardous Air Polluting Metals including phosphorous and manganese. Prolonged human contacts with these substances have been demonstrated to cause the following health problems: · Damage to the liver, kidney, thyroid, endocrine, immune and nervous systems. · Birth Defects · Cancer · Child Growth Retardation · Stunted intellectual function · Decreased survival rates in children · Reduced levels of male reproductive hormones · Diabetes In addition to the potential harm the magnesium refining plant would have on our community, the proposed plant would also alter the flow of natural water sources (to “minimize” water contamination) from Ruby Creek. Both the contamination and alter in water flow would have a negative impact on the quality and quantity of water, fish habitat, fish, fishery, wetland, wildlife habitat, wildlife and hunting. The Skawahlook First Nation has made it clear to North American Alloys that we have no interest in receiving water as we already have one of the best water supplies in the province. With these immediate and long term environmental and health hazards Skawahlook First Nation will not support the Cogburn Magnesium Project and are taking the necessary steps together with Ratcliff & Co. in putting a stop to the plant. We will attend community information forums to voice our concerns and opposition. We appreciate any further information on North American Alloys, magnesium production, and the health and environmental hazards associated with mining and refining. Also, your letters of support would be greatly appreciated and useful back to top Band Office Address:  58611A Lougheed Hwy, Agassiz, BC | FAX: 604-796-9289