I was privileged to attend and film a forum in Tofino several months ago, organized by the Friends of Clayoquot Sound to discuss two major proposals by Imperial Metals for mines in the heart of the world-renowned UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The crowd of several hundred heard a range of voices from both local First Nations and guest experts on mining and indigenous issues.

In the decades since record protests and international attention led to the halting of major logging in Clayoquot Sound, there has been little awareness of the ongoing industrial impacts on this ecological treasure. Logging continues in places, while local open net fish farms have brought sea lice and diseases which may be affecting dwindling wild salmon runs. Now, major proposals for a mountaintop removal copper mine at Catface Mountain and the reopening of an old gold mine at Tranquil Inlet threaten Clayoquot’s diverse, sensitive ecosystems and wilderness tourism economy.

Over the next week, The Common Sense Canadian will feature videos of a number of the different speakers who addressed the forum. Today, we are pleased to present videos of Terry Dorward, councillor for the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, Amy Crook of the Environmental Mining Education Foundation, and the Indigenous Network on Economics and Trade’s Arthur Manuel.

Terry Dorward – Councillor for the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations (scroll down for more videos)

Amy Crook – Environmental Mining Education Foundation

Arthur Manuel – Indigenous Network on Economics and Trade