The Tsilhqot’in Nation has halted Taseko Mines Ltd. beginning exploratory drilling for its proposed New Prosperity Mine... Contractors for Taseko attempting to bring heavy equipment in Tuesday morning at around 6:30 a.m. were stopped by a peaceful protest... [by] leaders and community members from the six Tshilqot’in nations... Finn Conradsen, manager of New Prosperity Field Program for TM, arrived at the site... and spoke with Chief Joe Alphonse, Tsilhqot’in National Government tribal chair... “Do you want to offer why you are opposed to the work that we are proposing?” Conradsen asked him. “I think the biggest issue is the mine as a whole,” Alphonse responded. “We’ve been opposed to it as a nation and we went through the Canadian Environmental review process. It was rejected twice by the most industry-friendly government we’ve ever had.”

When Conradsen asked if there was anything further Taseko could do to resolve the conflict and allow the site drilling program to go ahead, Alphonse said that should have happened 25 years ago. “The alternative to destroy our sacred area there is not an option,” he added. “We want to see big projects come through, but they have to be in areas where we are accepting of [them].”... He said they do not want an open pit mine in an area they consider sacred.