The Gitxsan Huwilp Government (GHG) has withdrawn its September 4, 2013 letter of support for Seabridge’s KSM Project issued during the Project’s environmental assessment process. In a very significant decision that has potential to adversely impact further development of Seabridge Gold's Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell (KSM) mine, the Gitxsan Huwilp Government has formally withdrawn its longstanding support for this mine. The unanimous decision by Gitxsan Huwilp Hereditary Chiefs

Former Alaska State Legislature Rep. Dan Ortiz responds to a recently co-authored opinion piece by Dunleavy administration officials — ADF&G Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang, DEC Commissioner Randy Bates, and DNR Deputy Commissioner Brent Goodrum — published in the Juneau Independent and praising cleanup progress at Canada’s abandoned Tulsequah Chief Mine. In his response, Ortiz challenges the administration’s optimistic assessment, calling out the press release and demanding m

Representatives from Alaska recently visited the Tulsequah Chief mine site to see cleanup efforts firsthand and ensure Alaska's downstream interests are represented. The delegation included Randy Bates, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation; Doug Vincent-Lang, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game; Brent Goodrum, deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources; along with representatives from Se n. Dan Sullivan'

There has also been increased attention on transboundary mining issues, highlighted by a recent hearing before the Alaska House State Affairs Committee. Testimony was provided by Salmon Beyond Borders, Rivers Without Borders, the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Dr. Dave Chambers, President of the Center for Science in Public Participation, and Linda Behnken, Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. Speakers consisten

Senator Lisa Murkowski recently addressed long-standing concerns about transboundary mining in a Northern Journal interview, highlighting the ongoing impacts of the abandoned Tulsequah Chief mine on the Taku watershed. "In that instance [of the abandoned Tulsequah Chief mine], we saw, just, a complete failure, and a failure that went on for decades to the point where, in British Columbia, they know that they have got to address it," Senator Murkowski said. "They know that for

On 12/3/25 the British Columbia Mines Ministry, the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, and Teck Resources held a webinar to provide an update on progress toward getting the Tulsequah Chief mine closed and cleaned up. The update was intended primarily for downstream interests, and if there was any question whether or not Alaskans are concerned about the well being of the Taku, that was answered. The webinar had more than 75 attendees, to capacity,” with some people unable to l

As RWB’s U.S. supporters may have heard by now, the Senate Budget Reconciliation bill currently under consideration back in Washington – Donald Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” – includes a provision calling for the sale of at least two million acres of American public land, and more up for grabs (a proposal introduced by Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee). Some 250 million acres – excluding protected lands like National Parks or Wilderness – would be eligible for dispos

The Juneau Empire recently published an editorial by retired Alaska Fish and Game Habitat Biologist Ben Kirkpatrick regarding the Taku’s infamous abandoned and polluting Tulsequah Chief mine. Ben has a long history with the Taku, and he knows the Tulsequah Chief mine well. His editorial implores British Columbia to get moving on the mine’s long promised cleanup. Ben also urges the provincial government not to pursue the New Polaris gold mine project, just down stream of Tu

Rivers Without Borders and our partners have been confronting proposed mining in headwaters of the Chilkat river at the north end of the Alaska panhandle. The Palmer project is backed partially by a Canadian company called American Pacific and particularly, and with most of the financing, by the large Japanese company DOWA. Now DOWA is backing out: Japanese smelting giant pulls out of major Southeast Alaska mining project. DOWA’s departure of course doesn’t necessarily im

On October 21, 2024 the Douglas Indian Association received a long overdue formal apology from the City and Borough of Juneau for the destruction of the Tribe’s Douglas Island village in summer 1962. At that time, following the pattern of countless generations, Tlingit residents of the village were away at fish camps up in the nearby Taku watershed. Non-Natives, seeking land for their own purposes, as well as an opportunity to reduce Taku commercial fishing competition, dec

We have long been saying that the Chilkat watershed at the north end of Alaska’s panhandle has tremendous ecological significance, but a recent study suggests it has even more importance to birds than we suspected. The article about the Audubon study also speaks to the watershed’s overall biodiversity, it’s world class salmon habitat, and its profound cultural and subsistence value to the Chilkat Tribe, underscoring why we’re concerned about the prospect of a headwaters minin

Over many months, The Globe and Mail and The Narwhal prepared an extensive investigation into the legacy of inadequate mining policy in BC, including excellent coverage of the Tulsequah Chief Mine. The gap between estimated cleanup costs, which are underestimated by industry, and the financial assurances provided by mining companies toward the cost of remediation continues. This business as usual approach places cleanup costs on BC taxpayers rather than on the mining companie

Rivers Without Borders wants 2024 to be the year we see significant, no turning back progress by British Columbia to finally get Tulsequah Chief closed and cleaned up. This will be a major environmental success in its own right toward returning southeast Alaska’s top salmon producing river system to a pristine status. Bigger picture, the remediation will go far to transition the Taku beyond mining, clearing the way for the Taku River Tlingit First Nation’s Indigenous Protec

In an important partial win for Chilkat conservation, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a decision on an appeal that calls upon its Water Quality Division to reconsider the basis on which its permit for waste water discharge was issued. Earthjustice appealed the permitting on behalf of Chilkat Indian Village and several other groups, including Rivers Without Borders. The issue is complicated, calling on the agency to go back and follow its own g

With potential mining targeting its headwaters, southeast Alaska’s Chilkat has made the American “Most Endangered Rivers” list for 2023. The Klehini, the major headwaters tributary of the Chilkat, is included in the listing. Advanced mineral exploration is ongoing in a spectacular alpine setting above the Klehini. A fact sheet about the Chilkat and a press release about the listing are below. The Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan, which opposes mining as a clear threat

The Taku River Tlingit First Nation has come out with a very strong conservation declaration for the Taku, as announced in the 1/20/23 article in the Globe & Mail. This is great news for the watershed and conservation, as the First Nation takes an inspired position very much in keeping with the Taku’s outstanding ecological and cultural values. As the article points out, the Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area, and British Columbia government’s acceptance of it, are two

Rivers Without Borders, Takshanuk Watershed Council, Lynn Canal Conservation, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, and Audubon Alaska joined Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan in challenging a state of Alaska issued permit authorizing the Palmer project’s underground mineral exploration in Chilkat headwaters. The exploration activity, as proposed, would be upstream of Klukwan and the renowned Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, site of the largest seasonal eagle gathering in the w

On September 15 Chilkat Indian Village announced that its challenge of the State of Alaska’s approval of a wastewater discharge system plan for Palmer/Constantine mineral exploration in Chilkat headwaters resulted in a remand. The approval has been vacated, putting a halt to construction and necessitating an internal review. The Tribe’s press release is attached here: As described in the release, the Alaska Department of Environmental Quality approved the discharge system

On August 30, 2022, the Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRTFN), the Douglas Indian Association, and the Southeast Indigenous Transboundary Commission put out a joint press release. It’s noteworthy for two reasons. First, it’s a response to news that the receivership status of the Taku watershed’s long abandoned and polluting Tulsequah Chief mine has been terminated. This is very encouraging, as it now frees British Columbia government to take more assertive measures towa

The Tulsequah Chief receivership is done. Rivers Without Borders received the following statement from the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation on 8/12/22: “West Face Capital, Chieftain Metal’s Inc.’s primary secured creditor, did not file materials in the Ontario Superior court to seek to appoint a receiver by the court mandated deadline of August 11, 2022. The Province’s position is that this concludes the receivership process.” Two years ago Chie