The Chiefs and Council of the Upper and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands say the province of B.C. has approved the expansion of the Copper Mountain mine in the B.C. Interior without their consent.

The New Ingerbelle expansion at the Copper Mountain mine, near Princeton, received permits under mines and environmental management legislation, according to a statement from the Ministry of Mining shared on Feb. 23.

The province says the work will extend the mine’s operation by 12 years, supporting about 800 jobs, with most workers living in the area.

It says the review included engagement with the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, Lower Similkameen Indian Band, local governments and technical regulators.

But in a joint statement, both the Upper and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands say that consultation was not enough and that they are “deeply disappointed” with the province’s action.

“The Chiefs, Councilors, Natural Resource Departments, and community members of the bands did not give consent for this project to move forward,” the statement reads.

They say while the bands have signed “participation agreements” with Copper Mountain, “these agreements expressly state that advance consent to new Ingerbelle was not provided,” and that was made clear throughout the process.

The bands says they will now be reviewing the approval and “assess all available options to ensure that the waters, all living things, and the lands, will be taken care of.”