亚洲天堂

The head from a tunnel boring machine used by Rio Tinto for the Kemano T2 project, is being delivered to Cheslatta Carrier Nation (CCN), as per the request of their Chief Corrina Leween.

At the beginning of the project, Cheslatta Carrier Nation named the drill tl鈥檜ghus [or 鈥楾he Giant Snake鈥橾 after a legendary giant monster snake, and it was decorated with artwork by Haisla Nation students.

鈥淎 few days ago, tl鈥檜ghus finished his journey when he poked his head out of Chief Louie鈥檚 mountain at Tahtsa Lake and spat out his last gobble of rock,鈥� Chief Corrina said in a letter to Rio Tinto.

鈥淭l鈥檜ghus is a fearsome subject in Cheslatta鈥檚 history, and many plans to slay tl鈥檜ghus were carried out to no avail. Chief Albert George and Chief Abel Peters always said that we had to slay tl鈥檜ghus and put its head upon our shore, build a fire, then dance and drum and celebrate.鈥�

鈥淚n October of 2021, we acknowledge that our tl鈥檜ghus today has brought us benefit instead of terror. This time, tl鈥檜ghus has linked us to our Haisla cousins and uncles. tl鈥檜ghus hired our young people to help him. Instead of fearing him, we now possess fond memories of our today鈥檚 tl鈥檜ghus, however, we still must honor our traditional beliefs and acknowledge the job he has done.鈥�

鈥淭herefor, I hereby authorize Rio Tinto to instruct their contractors to separate the head from our tl鈥檜ghus and deliver it to the shore of Cheslatta territory. Our people will await its arrival and will light a fire, dance and drum,鈥� Leween eloquently said in the letter.

Lakes District 亚洲天堂 spoke to Kemano T2 Project Manager Alex Jones, who said that tl鈥檜ghus had been in use for 30 months, from March 2019 to October 2021.

鈥淭he tunnel boring machine was selected by Rio Tinto as the safest and most efficient solution to complete a second tunnel between Tahtsa Lake and the Kemano Powerhouse, which provides a stable supply of electricity to the B.C. Works Aluminium Smelter in Kitimat,鈥� said Jones.

鈥淭l鈥檜ghus was used to cut through 7.6 kilometres of rock under Mount Dubose to link the existing 8.4-kilometre portion of the second tunnel that remained from the first phase of the project in the mid-1990s with the Tahtsa Lake water intake.鈥�

According to Jones, Rio Tinto is in full support of the ceremonial beheading of tl鈥檜ghus.

鈥淲e are very pleased to collaborate on this ceremony with the Cheslatta Carrier Nation and other local First Nations, as we have done throughout this major project. This is a great way to put an end to tl鈥檜ghus鈥� journey, while recognizing the significant role our Indigenous partners have played in this achievement.鈥�