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Mining chief warns permits and claims do not equal community consent
A Kwagu’ł hereditary chief said capital spent before engagement does not create any entitlement to approval, and urged investors to understand the 1851 Douglas Treaty and the community land-use plan before committing money.
A Kwagu’ł hereditary chief in British Columbia, David Mungo Knox, warned mining investors not to treat government permits or mineral claims as proof of his community’s consent. Mining.com reports that Knox said money spent before engagement gives companies no entitlement to approval, and that consultation should not be confused with consent.
Knox said some areas of Kwagu’ł territory may be able to accommodate development, while sacred or culturally important places will not. He also urged investors to understand the 1851 Douglas Treaty and the community land-use plan before committing capital, according to Mining.com.
In emailed comments ahead of a Sept. 23 panel at the Precious Metals Summit in Colorado, Knox said, “Do not mistake a meeting for agreement. Do not mistake consultation for consent,” and added that a government permit, tenure, licence, mineral claim, or approval is not permission from his people.
Mining.com said the warning followed an earlier discussion where explorers argued that community relationships should be incorporated into project due diligence before claims are staked or drilling begins. The panel’s business argument centered on treating community engagement as part of assessing projects, rather than relying on formal approvals alone.