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ARTICLE · 24 SEPTEMBER 2026

BC Signs DRIPA Agreement Requiring Simpcw Consent For Yellowhead Copper Project

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British Columbia and Simpcw First Nation have entered into a groundbreaking consent-based decision-making agreement under DRIPA that requires Indigenous consent for the Yellowhead Copper Project to proceed. This agreement establishes a new framework where parallel environmental assessments will be conducted—one provincial and one Indigenous—with Simpcw having final authority over project approval within their traditional territory.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Martin Ignasiak KC
Martin Ignasiak KC
Jessica Kennedy
Jessica Kennedy
Jennifer (Jenn) K. Choi
Jennifer (Jenn) K. Choi
Samantha Chenatte
Samantha Chenatte
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On July 15, 2026, the BC government and Simpcw First Nation entered into a consent-based decision-making agreement (Agreement) for the environmental assessment and review of the Yellowhead Copper Project (Yellowhead Project).

The Yellowhead Project is an open-pit copper mine proposed by Trekor Metals Limited, located approximately 150 km northeast of Kamloops, BC Simpcw is part of the Secwépemc (Shuswap) Nation, and its traditional territory covers approximately 5,000,000 hectares in BC and Alberta.  Trekor is not a party to the Agreement; however, it was involved in the industry engagement about the Agreement negotiations.

Under the Agreement, Simpcw consent is required for the Yellowhead Project to proceed. Although the Agreement currently applies only to the Yellowhead Project, it includes mechanisms to add other projects within Simpcw traditional territory.

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