Community dinner and meeting to discuss updates from the Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp and first hand accounts from the Mount Polley disaster

October 6 Community dinner at 6:30, Speakers start at 7:00

Grandview Calvary Baptist Church – 1803 East 1st Ave, Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories

Kanahus Manuel with other speakers to be announced soon

Free of charge. Dinner and Childcare also provided! Accessibility information below.

On August 4th, the tailings pond at the open pit Imperial Metals mine at Mount Polley breached, spewing 14.5 million cubic meters of tailings waste containing Arsenic, Nickel, Zinc, Cadmium, Cobalt, Phosphorus, Lead, Copper, Mercury and Selenium, which was spilled into nearby Hazeltine Creek, contaminating it, Polley Lake and Quesnel Lake.

This is one of the largest global mining disasters ever to occur.

The impacted area, the traditional lands of the Secwepemc Nation was devastated. A sleepy creek was transformed into a raging river of toxic debric, mud and tailings. Plants were seared into the ground by chemicals, and trees in the once pristine area were ripped right out of the ground. Tracks from countless wildlife have been found in the muddy aftermath.

Communities reported not being notified of the disaster.

Come hear the voices of grassroots organizers Secwepemc women warriors who set up the sacred fire camp at the entrance of the mine, and hear what they have to say about the situation two months after the disaster struck.

This event will be held on the traditional and unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

Accessibility Info: Childcare provided at no cost. The event is wheelchair accessible through the kitchen at street level. There is one wheelchair accessible washroom (washroom door: 86 cm, stall door: 61 cm). Event conducted primarily in English.

Hosted by: No One Is Illegal – Vancouver unceded Coast Salish Territories, Streams of Justice, and Rising Tide – Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories