Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation says mineral exploration in Clayoquot Sound goes against rights and title – Hashilthsa.com
March 17, 2026
Clayoquot Sound, B.C.
Imperial Metals is hoping to strike gold in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, but Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and several allies are calling on the B.C. government to rescind the company’s permit to drill for the yellow metal.
Clayoquot Sound is located within the unceded traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN) on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The small tourist town of Tofino serves as a gateway to the biosphere region and welcomes over 600,000 visitors annually.
The permits related to gold mining in Clayoquot Sound were first issued in 2013. The recently re-issued permits expire in February 2031 and include 22 drill sites, three helipads and six trenches.
