Mining Oil and Gas

One of the legacies of the E&N railway grant it the complex array of subsurface rights in Hul'qumi'num territory (see 'E&N railway grant' map for more information). Coal tenures cover 34% (119,124ha) of the land area of the HTG core territory. With a few exceptions coal mining on Vancouver Island ended in the early 20th century, coalbeds remain relevant with the possibility of coalbed methane extraction raised in recent years.

Tenure for other minerals such as limestone, rhodonite, metallic minerals, and sand and gravel cover 6% (20,886ha) of the land area of HTG core territory. Within HTG core territory there are 248 identified mineral occurrences. These are ranked by their development status with the status 'showing' being the least developed and 'past producer' being a development which has completed the development progression. Of the identified mineral occurrences 173 are classified as 'showing', 24 are classified as 'prospect', 10 are classified as 'developed prospect', 1 is classified as 'producer', and 40 are classified as 'past producer' by the BC geological survey. Hul’qumi’num communities have by-in-large not been invited to be involved in the consultation or development of these mineral prospects.

For more information on the Hul’qumi’num peoples strategic vision on Mining, Oil, and Gas, please see the HTG Strategic Land Use Plan: Chapter 7.10