Carcross/Tagish First Nation bans controversial fracking practices in Traditional Territory

CARCROSS, YT, Dec. 9, 2013 – The Traditional Territory of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation (C/TFN) will remain a beacon of environmental purity. On December 5, the General Council ratified a motion passed by Executive Council on November 21, 2013 ensuring C/TFN that fracking will not be permitted within its Traditional Territory, which includes 4000 square miles of un-surrendered land in Northern B.C. The motion guarantees a clean and safe environment for the residents of C/TFN.

“It’s our responsibility to protect our lands and water for future generations,” said George Shepherd, member of the Executive Council, who moved the motion. “Not only is fracking a completely ineffective way to extract resources, it would cause a great deal of harm to the land we take such great pride in,” Shepherd added.

The motion was developed by C/TFN’s Land Use Team in order to address issues of natural and heritage resources found within the C/TFN Traditional Territory. The team compared the potential revenues from fracking projects to the damage they would cause to the environment. “The use of fracking doesn’t make any sense,” said Frank James, the Lands Manager.

“It’s our responsibility to protect the environment and our Traditional Territory, which includes the headwaters of the Yukon river,” said C/TFN’s Khà Shâde Héni, Danny Cresswell. Cresswell further stated that, “the harm a fracking project would cause to the land and waterways would not be worth the revenues. Not to mention the damage it would cause to the natural landscape, which is something we would never be able to recover.”

The Carcross/Tagish First Nation is a proud self-governing First Nation located in the southwest of Yukon. Their territory surrounds a portion of the South Klondike highway that runs from Skagway, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon. Its mandate is to protect the environment as well as promoting health, education and aboriginal rights of its citizens. The Carcross/Tagish First Nation will continue to preserve and protect its culture, traditions, and natural resources. By doing so, its government and economy will be strengthened for future generations.

For further information:
Michelle Parsons, Senior Government Official
Phone: 867-821-4251 extension 8208;
Email: michelle.parsons@ctfn.ca