As the Chilkat Indian Village (CIV) Tribal Government, we embrace development projects that support our natural and cultural resources. We developed our community in the Jilkaat Kwaan territory for thousands of years while stewarding and protecting the land, water, plants, animals and way of life of our people.
We stand against the Palmer Project because evidence suggests that it may damage our waterways, and therefore all our natural resources, cultural practices, and economic systems. Klukwan translates roughly to “Eternal Village.” We are not willing to risk the longterm vitality of future generations for short-term economic gains.
This page describes three resources we are unwilling to trade for a mine:
Traditional Foods
Traditional foods are not simply a means of survival; they are the lifeblood of the culture, community, and daily life. The rhythm of gathering, processing, and sharing traditional foods throughout the seasons connects us to our ancestors, to each other, and to the next generation. These foods are essential to the health and well-being of Klukwan, as well as many Native and non-Native people throughout the Chilkat Valley.
While Constantine has tried to assure us that they will do everything in their power to protect our watersheds, we recognize that they cannot guarantee this protection. After imagining our village without subsistence foods, we are not willing risk an exchange our steady and reliable food source for a mine.
Economy
The Chilkat Valley economy is diverse, with jobs in tourism, commercial fishing, development projects, and many others. Klukwan contributes to and relies upon the Chilkat Valley economy, while also hosting our own “mixed economy” that operates with a cash component and a subsistence component. Click here for more on “mixed economies.”
Projected Job Gain: Constantine predicts that once operational, the mine will last 11 years with approximately 220 full time employees and 40 contractor positions (source: PEA press release). We recognize that Constantine has made no guarantee that they - or the operating company that purchases the project from Constantine - will hire locally. Additionally, these jobs are short-term, lasting only 11 years before the mine closes.
Projected Job Loss: As described in our section on Ecological Threat there is evidence to suggest that this mine will damage local waterways, and therefore fisheries and entire ecosystems. Our current economy is highly dependent upon commercial fishing and tourism (see our fishery and tourism sections), both of which rely upon healthy waterways. We will never be willing to sacrifice local sustainable jobs in fisheries and tourism for short-term jobs in the mining industry.
Heritage
For thousands of years, the Jilkaat Kwaan (people of the Chilkat) have relied upon healthy waterways not just for food and economy, but also for a broader sense of prosperity. Today, the healthy river provides a connection our heritage and ancestors.
When we look to the mountains, we see the places that have protected and fed our ancestors for thousands of years. We also see the places that will continue to protect and feed our generations to come. When they look to the mountains, they see money and ore.
Constantine claims that “the company has made community engagement a priority” (source: press release). However Constantine threatens the very thing that enables our community to prosper: the waterways. Constantine can make no guarantee that the mine will operate without harming the river of our ancestors and our future generations.