Susan Smitten
Victoria, BC
raventrust.com
I am a married mom, author, director, producer, singer, gardener, cyclist and now fundraiser trying to save the planet from global warming, save lakes... the usual.

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Recent activity

  • Video comment
    2 months ago
    Susan Smitten commented on Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot'in Fight for Teztan Biny (Fish Lake)

    On Friday, the Tsilhqot'in won an injunction against Taseko Mines - it was a spectacular victory. Xeni Gwet'in Chief Marilyn Baptiste was granted an injunction to stop exploration at the proposed mine site. And Taseko's application for an injunction preventing the Tsilhqot'in from blockading the road was rejected.

    Justice Grauer dismissed Taseko's claim that delays would cause irreparable harm to the firm and instead ruled that without the injunction, the Tsilhqot'in would lose their right to be meaningfully consulted forever, and that "preservation of the area is vital" while the "gold and copper is not going anywhere."

    This is a temporary win, that allows the Tsilhqpt'in time to consult and to raise the funds they will need for the second environmental review.

  • Video comment
    2 months ago
    Susan Smitten commented on Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot'in Fight for Teztan Biny (Fish Lake)

    Helly Bryce - unfortunately no, I don't have plans to film there. It's a good story - so others may be working on it. I just don't have the resources or time to add another one to my plate! Thanks for writing... best of luck!

  • Video comment
    2 months ago
    Susan Smitten commented on Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot'in Fight for Teztan Biny (Fish Lake)

    And in case it isn't clear, all the legal costs for this - from preparing arguments to having a lawyer stand in court, to hiring experts to research and write the scientific reports needed for the hearing, to getting the elders in to testify ALL cost money that must be paid by the Tsilhqot'in. They bear this burden alone. There is no legal aid. Government does not pay for this. They just launch the process and then it is up to the band to pay for it.

  • Video comment
    2 months ago
    Susan Smitten commented on Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot'in Fight for Teztan Biny (Fish Lake)

    An update: The fight to save Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) is on again in earnest. As noted in the comment above, Taseko Mines has resubmitted a plan - a worse option than the one that was rejected - and it is now going to be reviewed by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA). In addition, the province issued permits to allow Taseko to go in and build roads and drill at 59 sites, in advance of the federal EA. So now the Tsilhoqot'in are in court, trying to get injunctions to prevent this from occurring.

    RAVEN is now launching a second round of calls for help for the Tsilhqot'in - setting up a legal defence fund and raising the much needed funds to cover both the court applications and the experts and reports that will be needed for the upcoming CEAA review. Please share this and if you can assist with this effort, your energy, time, resources will be gratefully received!

    Tax-deductible donations can be made online at the RAVEN website, raventrust.com.

  • Video comment
    2 months ago
    Susan Smitten commented on Blue Gold: The Tsilhqot'in Fight for Teztan Biny (Fish Lake)

    Thanks Stephen - I was grateful to watch your film a couple of years ago at a screening here in Victoria - it was a kick off to the work we did in the first round of saving Fish Lake. And you are correct that the so-called 'new' proposal is like the old one. That's because it was their plan B - a worse option by Taseko's own admission - and it was rejected by CEAA and Taseko in the first round. Somehow it is now an acceptable option for them to put forward.

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