On Monday August 4, 2014, the tailings dam of the Mount Polley Mine was breached, releasing water/tailings and ground rock into Polley Lake, then into Hazeltine Creek and then to Quesnel Lake. The Mine is in the northern part of the Secwepemc te Qelmucw (NStQ) traditional territory and is within the traditional territories of T'exelc Williams Lake Indian Band and the Xat'sull Soda Creek First Nations.
This breach has affected communities in the surrounding area and throughout BC in many ways. Mental and spiritual health and water and food fish safety were the immediate concerns of Nations and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA).
At the invitation of local First Nations, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) commissioned the initial phases of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA). An HIA is a systematic approach to assessing the health impacts and risks associated with an event, project, or policy, and uses qualitative, quantitative and participatory methods.
