smǝlqmíx Youth Lead Anti-Mine Rally Amid Expansion Greenlight

smǝlqmíx Youth Mobilize Against Copper Mountain Mine Expansion

A coalition of smǝlqmíx (Similkameen) Youth, spearheading the nmlqitkʷ (Similkameen River) Defenders, has intensified opposition to the Copper Mountain Mine's New Ingerbelle expansion project. The provincial government recently greenlit the expansion, granting permits under the Mines Act and Environmental Management Act. Despite this, over 50 community members gathered in Keremeos, British Columbia, to voice their dissent.

Community Concerns Over Environmental Risks

The proposed expansion involves raising the existing 192-metre tailings dam by 87 metres, a move that has sparked fears of catastrophic impacts on the Similkameen River. The river, central to the syilx smǝlqmíx people's cultural and ecological heritage, is at risk from potential contamination and disruption. The nmlqitkʷ group emphasizes that the project threatens not only the river but also the health and well-being of future generations.

Youth Leadership and Intergenerational Responsibility

Meadow Arcand, a key organizer with the nmlqitkʷ Defenders, articulated the youth-led movement's core message: "We’re standing here so people can’t say that we didn’t." The group stresses their responsibility to protect sacred water sources and the land for future generations, echoing the efforts of Elders and ancestors. Arcand extended this call to action to all who benefit from Okanagan waters and territories, urging broader community engagement in environmental stewardship.

The rally, held in Keremeos, featured diverse participants displaying signs like "No to the Ingerbelle Mine Expansion," reflecting a unified front against the project. While the province has approved the expansion, the smǝlqmíx Youth remain steadfast in their commitment to safeguarding their homelands and the natural resources that sustain them.