The Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission has filed for judicial review in the BC Supreme Court, alleging the province failed to properly consult its 14 member Tribes on major mining projects near the Taku, Stikine, and Unuk river headwaters. SEITC argues it provided extensive evidence of longstanding territorial ties, yet the province denied it full “Participating Indigenous Nation” status and limited engagement to notification only. The contested projects include Skeena’s Eskay Creek proposal and Newmont’s Red Chris mine, one of Canada’s first fast-tracked approvals. The Commission cites the 2021 R. v. Desautel decision, affirming that US-based Indigenous groups can hold rights in Canada. BC’s Environmental Assessment Office has not commented on the filing.
