The Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation is calling on the Yukon government to remove Victoria Gold Corp. from managing the cleanup of the Eagle Gold mine, following a massive ore slide and cyanide spill that occurred in late June. The First Nation is also demanding a public inquiry into what it describes as a preventable environmental catastrophe.
In a statement issued Thursday, the nation’s leadership said it has lost all confidence in Victoria Gold, the owner of the mine, accusing the company of failing to follow government directions and lacking the capacity to properly remediate the damage.
“The company has lost our confidence and we do not believe they will be able to effectively address this disaster they created in our traditional territory,” said Chief Dawna Hope. She added that public apologies and assurances from the company’s leadership “ring hollow.”
The Eagle Gold mine’s heap leach facility collapsed on June 24, triggering a massive slide of cyanide-contaminated ore and releasing millions of litres of cyanide solution used in gold extraction. The spill raised immediate concerns about environmental contamination in nearby waterways.
Yukon government officials confirmed Thursday that water samples taken downstream from the mine show cyanide concentrations that “significantly exceed” guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. While samples collected farther downstream indicate lower levels due to dilution and remain below drinking water guidelines officials say the situation remains serious.
Brendan Mulligan, a senior scientist with Yukon’s Department of Environment, said monitoring has revealed a “pattern of increasing cyanide levels” in water samples taken closer to the mine site since the incident. He noted that groundwater sampling has been temporarily suspended due to safety concerns related to ongoing instability at the site.
The Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation is urging the territorial government to take “immediate and robust action” to ensure cleanup and mitigation efforts continue, and to prevent further contamination. The nation also reiterated its call for a public inquiry to investigate the failures that led to the disaster and to ensure such an event does not happen again.
“The failures that caused this catastrophe must be examined in full,” the statement said.
Victoria Gold CEO John McConnell did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday. However, in an earlier interview with CBC North, McConnell said the company is “doing everything humanly possible to prevent this from becoming a major environmental disaster.” He acknowledged that relations with the First Nation are “strained” and offered apologies to the Na-Cho Nyak Dun as well as to company employees and contractors.
The First Nation, however, has raised concerns about the company’s financial ability to carry out remediation, stating that Victoria Gold “lacks the financial resources to be entrusted with remediation.” McConnell has disputed that claim, saying the company’s finances are “fine” for the next four to six months.
Meanwhile, environmental monitoring continues. Senior fisheries biologist Cameron Sinclair said officials are assessing both short- and long-term impacts on fish populations in nearby Haggart Creek. Fish tissue samples have been sent to a laboratory for testing to determine potential heavy metal accumulation.
Yukon officials say they continue to work with both Victoria Gold and the Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation as the response to the spill unfolds, but the First Nation maintains that oversight of the cleanup must be taken out of the company’s hands to protect the land, water, and wildlife in the region.
