Highland Valley Copper Mine is currently permitted to operate until 2028; however, they are proposing to extend the life of the mine to 2040 by expanding existing pits and site infrastructure. This is called the HVC 2040 Project. The Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly (CNA) is developing a Nlaka’pamux Impact Assessment Framework to apply to HVC 2040 to assess potential project impacts to Nlaka’pamux Title, Rights, values and interests to ensure impacts are adequately mitigated. A key aspect of this is collecting our own data, based on our own lived experience, to ensure our assessment of impacts aligns with the Nlaka’pamux worldview. Thus, the Nlaka’pamux Legacy Project: Highland Valley, was established as a process to collect and document Nlaka’pamux land use and history in the Highland Valley, as well as to gather socio-economic information.
This survey is for CNA Participating Band members (Ashcroft Indian Band, Boston Bar First Nation, Coldwater Indian Band, Cook’s Ferry Indian Band, Nooaitch Indian Band, Nicomen Indian Band, Shackan Indian Band and Siska Indian Band) only. All individual information gathered during the surveys will be considered confidential and only collective data will be used to develop the final report, which will inform CNA’s review of the HVC 2040 Project. Raw data will be housed and stewarded by the CNA, and the Participating Bands will also be provided access to their community-specific data without including the identity of individuals.
We are gathering present-day data to get a better understanding of the social, cultural, economic, and community well-being of the eight Participating Bands, so that we may understand what further mining in the Highland Valley means to our people.
THERE ARE TWO SURVEYS:
· Individual Survey: All Participating Band members over the age of 16 are asked to fill this out.
· Head of Household Survey: If you are the head of your household (someone who represents those living within the same home), please fill this out. You will also be eligible to answer the Individual Survey, however only one Head of Household Survey is allowed per household.
Your perspective and time are important to us, and as such all individuals that complete the Individual Survey will be compensated through a $50 gift certificate.
Those who are eligible, that respond to the Head of Household Survey will receive a $25 gift card.
All respondents to the Individual Survey will also be entered into a final draw to win one of three prizes: a hunting knife set, blanket, or a smoker.
*Contact information is only being collected for gift card compensation, and prize entry*