The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun is calling on Canada’s auditor general to look into the Yukon government’s handling of the Eagle gold mine incident.
The First Nation also wants it to investigate “broader issues surrounding mineral management in the territory.”
Chief Dawna Hope submitted a letter to Auditor General Karen Hogan on Dec. 9 calling for performance audits of the Yukon and federal governments.
In a Dec. 11 news release, Hope detailed how her First Nation had been impacted by the incident and the need for accountability.
“Our pain is immense, but our resolve to protect our Traditional Territory and the birthright of our future generations remains steadfast,” she said. “The Eagle Gold Mine crisis is not over. Every day presents new challenges and new obstacles that threaten FNNND lands and waters.”
On June 24, four million tonnes of cyanide-laced ore slid down a mountainside heap embarkment at Victoria Gold’s Eagle gold mine near Mayo, Yukon. The mine is located on the First Nation’s traditional territory.
While the mine is now in receivership, cyanide continues to seep into the groundwater, which is now reaching nearby Haggart Creek.
Hope said Haggart Creek is an essential habitat for many fish species including critically sensitive chinook salmon.
Earlier this year, Yukon government launched an independent review board to look into the technical causes of what is known as a “heap leach” failure. The heap leaching process is where ore is put in a lined hole and is covered in cyanide to help separate the gold.
Hope said if the Yukon government had a hand in the failure, she wants to see it held accountable.
“In FNNND’s view, (Yukon government’s) failures in governmental oversight may have contributed to the catastrophic heap leach failure that occurred on June 24, 2024, and this must be assessed,” she said.
“Yukon Government, however, has only tasked an Independent Review Board with identifying the more narrow, technical—not governmental—causes of the catastrophe.”
Hope also asked Hogan to examine what it calls Yukon and Canada’s failure to uphold the “processes and promises of federal devolution.”
She said the territory has yet to develop new mineral legislation “consistent with Indigenous rights and modern mineral management.”
“A big part of that co-management requires a fundamental overhaul of Yukon’s mining regime, which dates back to the Gold Rush era and its profits-over-people approach to mining. Our Nation—and all Yukoners—need and deserve new mining legislation that respects Indigenous rights and the environment. Yet Yukon Government has not been willing to make the meaningful changes required to truly modernize Yukon’s mining regime,” she said.
Representatives for the First Nation said Hope is not doing interviews at this time.
Read More:
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Following the announcement of Hope’s letter, the Yukon NDP Party said it stands behind the First Nation’s request and had submitted its own letter of support to Hogan.
“Na-Cho Nyäk Dun’s territory has been forever affected by this disaster,” said party leader Kate white.
“This should never have happened, and we need to understand what led to this so that we can prevent it ever happening again and so far, the Yukon Government had refused to hold a public inquiry into their role in this disaster.”
Yukon cabinet spokesperson Laura Seely said in a statement the government is taking the matter seriously.
“As a responsible regulator, we take this matter seriously and want to do all we can to prevent future incidents,” she said.
“Should the Office of the Auditor General determine that the proposed audit is within its mandate and opts to undertake it, we will fully respond and support any requests for participation or information from them.”
Unlike the provinces which have their own auditors, Karen Hogan handles audits in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. When contacted, her office said it’s reviewing the First Nation’s request and will respond when it completes its assessment.
