British Columbia First Nation rescinds support for Seabridge’s KSM gold project
The Hereditary Chiefs of the Gitxsan Huwilp government, which has supported KSM’s development since 2013, decided via unanimous vote to withdraw its support on Aug. 13.
The Gitxsan Huwilp government has withdrawn its support for Seabridge Gold's KSM gold mine project in northwestern British Columbia. This decision comes after years of opposition to the mine's development due to concerns over the potential toxic waste's impact on local waterways. The Tsetsaut Skii km Lax Ha Nation (TSKLH) specifically raised these concerns, stating that they were not consulted about the environmental risks.
In June 2026, B.C.'s supreme court ruled in favor of the TSKLH, finding that the province failed to consult the First Nation properly. The Hereditary Chiefs of the Gitxsan Huwilp government, who have supported the KSM project since 2013, unanimously decided to withdraw their support on August 13, 2026, in solidarity with the TSKLH.
They emphasized the importance of being good stewards of the land and called on the provincial and federal governments to engage in true consultation. The Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs are seeking economic partnerships based on collaboration and shared decision-making. KSM is one of the world's largest undeveloped gold projects, with an estimated 47.3 million ounces of gold and 7.3 billion pounds of copper, according to Seabridge.
One of the TSKLH's main concerns is the potential threat to the Nass and Unuk river sheds, which are crucial for several Pacific salmon and eulachon species.
Written by urgent.news from Mining.com's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
