VANCOUVER, BC - Concerned citizens and environmentalists, including members of four First Nations, will be holding a rally and press conference this Thursday outside the Imperial Metals AGM in downtown Vancouver.

Imperial Metals has extremely controversial copper mine interests in the territories of 4 First Nations. Band members from each Nation, Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Stolo and Tahltan, will speak in a special First Nations press conference. Native singer songwriter Nitanis S Desjarlais will also sing her songs of protest regarding the Imperial copper mine proposal at Catface Mountain in Clayoquot Sound in Ahousaht Nation Territory.

WHEN: Thursday, May 12, 2011, noon – 1pm

WHERE: 550 Burrard St. (at the corner of Burrard and Dunsmuir) in Vancouver, across the street from the Burrard Skytrain Station.

WHAT: Rally with short speeches, music, press conference and props.

WHO: The rally is being co-organized by concerned citizens and the Wilderness Committee.

WHY: Imperial Metals has controversial copper mine interests in private land in the middle of Manning Provincial Park in Stolo Nation Territory, in the Sacred Headwaters of northwestern BC in Tahltan Nation Territory, and in Clayoquot Sound, a United Nations Biosphere Reserve in Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht Nation Territory directly adjacent to Tofino, BC.

Contact:

Andy Miller, Staff Scientist, Wilderness Committee — 604.683.8220 or 604.992.0839