An Investigation of Telkwa Coal Limited’s Proposed Tenas Project Coal Mine and the Potential Financial Impacts on the Bulkley Valley and Wet’suwet’en First Nation
Emma Barrett
Florida State University
Charles Campbell
Florida State University
Keywords: Environmental Justice, Indigenous, First Nations, Extractive Industries, Economic Impacts, Climate Change
Abstract
In 2019, Telkwa Coal Limited (TCL) released plans for a proposed coal mine, named the Tenas Project coal mine. This mine, operating in the Bulkley Valley in British Columbia, will reside on the Wet’suwet’en First Nation’s land. When considering the introduction of extractive industries into Indigenous territory, it is essential to investigate the financial gains and losses that will result. Thus, this paper hopes to address the following question: to what extent will the TCL proposed Tenas Project coal mine impact the economic development of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation and the larger Bulkley Valley region? We aim to consider both conventional and unconventional aspects of capital when investigating the impact that the Tenas Project will have on the Bulkley Valley economy. Through analysis of existing literature, interviews with Wet’suwet’en clan leaders, and understanding of TCL’s existing proposal, we hope to present the Wet’suwet’en First Nation with a comprehensive exploration of the economic impacts of the Tenas Project coal mine.
