December 2, 2020
Today, Yellowknives Dene First Nation launched its formal call to the Canadian government for an apology and compensation for the damage and long-lasting impact to their lands and people caused by Giant Mine. This demand is backed by extensive historical documentation, local knowledge, and community voices, some of which are documented on the website “Giant Mine Monster.”
“Today, Canada has the opportunity to address these wrongs and to reconcile with our people.
We call upon Canada to apologize to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and to ensure our people, who have suffered Giant Mine’s toxic legacy, benefit from repairing it.
Although Giant Mine makes it impossible for us to exercise our harvesting rights in our own backyard, it does not extinguish our rights to manage the environment.”
The Toxic Legacies project was conceived in part to assist the community in documenting this history and supporting these claims, including through the film “Guardians of Eternity.” We’re proud to see aspects of this research featured, alongside stories and reports from the community.