This is an abbreviated version of the film “Our Land is Our Future”, a documentary about the the Taku River Tlingit people’s relationship with their traditional territory and their struggle to honor their land, sovereignty, and way of life.
“The Taku is a land abundant with life. Within its 18,000 square kilometers/4.5 million acres, the watershed encompasses seven biogeoclimatic zones, enriching the region with stunning diversity. It is the traditional territory of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRTFN), who maintain strong ties to this landscape. It is also home to globally significant populations of large mammals, including carnivores such as: grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, wolverine, and lynx; as well as ungulates including moose, mountain goat, sheep; and woodland caribou. Bald eagles and many species of migrating birds, including the Trumpeter swan, also populate the watershed. Without roads to fragment and disrupt their habitat, these species play out their historic predator-prey relationships and move unimpeded across the landscape. The watershed is home to runs of all five species of wild Pacific salmon, as well as over 30 other species of fish.”
Today, development interests threaten to fragment this land.
” In the 1940’s and 1950’s, there were three small mine sites on the Tulsequah tributary of the Taku River: Polaris Taku (now called New Polaris), Tulsequah Chief, and Big Bull. These sites were all accessed by barge up the Taku River. All three sites are being promoted for reopening, with the Tulsequah Chief being most advanced in this process. Other companies are waiting in the wings to access their staked claims in the area.
The most immediate threat is the proposal by the junior mining company Redfern Resources (wholly owned subsidiary of Redcorp Ventures Ltd.) to access and reopen the Tulsequah Chief mine site. The key concerns with the project include: impacts from accessing the site, toxic drainage into the river and sensitive surrounding areas, and the certainty that this project would pave the way for further industrial development.
One potential access route for the Tulsequah Chief project is to construct a 160km/100 mile road into the heart of the watershed. Such a road would not only be immediately devastating to caribou and salmon, it would also be a wedge to open the area to further devastation.
In January 2007 Redfern announced another possible access option, driving air cushion barges up the Taku River. Like the road, barging would also enhance the potential for developing other projects. And barging also has its own slate of potential ecological impacts, particularly on migrating salmon and their habitat.” (source)
