Three Yukon First Nations lay out expectations for Gladiator Metals

An area on the Whitehorse copper belt near Gladiator Metals drill sites. (Leslie Amminson/CBC)

By Gabrielle Plonka, RCI, CBC News

The exploration company is applying to expand its drilling operations in the Whitehorse copper belt

The Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council have proposed multiple conditions before Gladiator Metals is approved to expand drilling in the Whitehorse copper belt.

The First Nations submitted public submissions to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB) on July 22. The public comment period for the project closed July 24.

Gladiator Metals, a B.C.-based mineral exploration company, has been drilling in the Whitehorse copper belt since April 2023. The company is applying to increase its permit from class 1 to class 3, which would allow it to expand work over the next five years throughout its whole 35-kilometre Copper Belt project, most of which is within Whitehorse city limits.

The First Nations are calling for specific mitigation measures against environmental damage in the area.

In its submission, Kwanlin Dün First Nation recommended that Gladiator receive a “specific term of approval” restricting intensive drilling activities to the identified work areas, not the entire claim block. It made several specific recommendations for environmental mitigation, such as halting work whenever caribou pass within one kilometre of a work area.

The First Nation is also asking that mineral claims be relinquished within the boundary of Chasàn Chùa, or McIntyre Creek, which was just established as a territorial park in June. It wants activities on current claims in the park to be restricted to non-ground disturbing activities.

The Ta’an Kwäch’än Council said its primary concern is risk to the Chasàn Chùa corridor. It wants the distance between mining activities and headwaters in Chasàn Chùa to be doubled from 30 metres to 60 metres.

Carcross/Tagish First Nation, which has some settlement land near the project, said in its submission it’s opposed to the project being approved. The First Nation wants a heritage assessment in the area and a buffer established around anything with heritage value.

It also says C/TFN personnel should be permitted to conduct a survey of medicinal plants in the area, and that a buffer should be established to protect those values from any mining activity.

Public comment period attracts more than 100 submissions

YESAB received 108 public submissions on the project proposal.

Approximately 43 of them spoke in favour of Gladiator expanding its work. Six of those commenters identified themselves as being directly affiliated with Gladiator Metals. Another seven submissions represented local businesses that serve the mining and exploration industry.

Some citizens in favour of the project praised mining as a pillar of Yukon’s history and economy. Other comments said copper mining is important for the clean energy transition.

A handful of people said they work in the industry and would like industry opportunities that allow them to work and live in the city.

About 49 submissions were against the project. A handful of the negative comments came from people who live near the project, didn’t want drilling so close to their home and are concerned about the potential impact on well water.

Nearly all the negative submissions expressed concern about the environmental impact. Some said they didn’t trust Gladiator Metals because of the company’s previous infractions in the area.

The remaining submissions were neutral or provided specific recommendations for environmental protection without taking a stance.

YESAB has also put in a request for additional information from Gladiator Metals before the assessment process can proceed.

Among other questions, it asked Gladiator to provide scientific evidence for its claims that exploration drilling doesn’t typically affect residential wells beyond very short distances. It also asked Gladiator to clarify its intentions for claims in or near Chasàn Chùa Territorial Park.

The deadline for Gladiator’s response is Aug. 26.