54 Degrees North - Podcast series about issues around Northwest BC – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we’re joined by geographers Rosemary Collard and Jessica Dempsey to discuss their groundbreaking audit of mining projects in British Columbia. Are environmental regulations really the bottleneck the mining industry claims they are? What happens when the promised economic benefits of mining—like jobs, tax revenue, and production—fall drastically short? Rosemary and Jessica walk us through their research, revealing surprising insights about delays, care-and-maintenance loopholes, and the underperformance of mines.

You can find Rosemary and Jessica's audit here: https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2024-0083

Rosemary and Jessica are co-directors of the 'Extinction Paradox' research project. You can learn about that here: https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2024-0083

Other links:

• Rachel Singleton-Polster, Regulatory barriers to mine reclamation for caribou
• Nick Gottlieb, Mining companies are abusing a little-known loophole to avoid cleanup

This episode of Beneath the Surface features a discussion about the proposed Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell (KSM) mine in northern British Columbia. If completed, the KSM mine would become one of the world’s largest gold-copper mines, threatening critical river systems and the communities that depend on them.

Joining us is Rachel Gutman, a lawyer with Ecojustice, who is part of the legal team challenging the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office’s decision to classify the KSM mine as “substantially started.” This designation allows the mine to move forward under an environmental assessment conducted over a decade ago, despite significant changes in environmental laws, science, and our understanding of climate risks.

Rachel breaks down what “substantially started” means, why this case matters, and what a legal victory could mean for environmental protection and Indigenous rights in British Columbia.

Learn more about:

• Ecojustice
• SkeenaWild
• Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission

In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear about training and gardening programs in the wider Bulkley Valley region that help make growing food more accessible. 

Interviews with Helene Fleury, Gwininit (Yvonne Lattie), Jennifer Zyp, Jacob Beaton, Dmitri Cody, Scott McMillan, and Lucia Gastiazoro.   

Music thanks to the regionally talented Saltwater Hank and artwork by Facundo Gastiazoro. 

This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory during COVID-19 via Zoom in May and June 2020. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at 54DegreesNorthPodcast@gmail.com. 

In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear origin stories of how food producers from the Bulkley Valley region got started - their motivations behind where and what they grow.

Interviews with Laurie Gallant, Jacob Beaton, Crystal Nelligan and Mark Fisher. 

Music thanks to the regionally talented Saltwater Hank and artwork by Facundo Gastiazoro.

This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory during COVID-19 via Zoom in May and June 2020. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at 54DegreesNorthPodcast@gmail.com. 

In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear tips and tricks from gardeners and harvesters in the Bulkley Valley region.

Interviews with Gwininit (Yvonne Lattie), Jennifer Zyp, Shannon McPhail, Emily Bulmer, Crystal Nelligan, Mark Fisher, Felix and Lucia Gastiazoro. 

Music thanks to the regionally talented Los Gringos Salvajes and Saltwater Hank. Thanks to Facundo Gastiazoro for the artwork. 

This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory during COVID-19 via Zoom in May and June 2020. 54 Degrees North is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at 54DegreesNorthPodcast@gmail.com. 

In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear politics and policies, and initiatives and ideas for taking action and adapting to the climate crisis in the Bulkley Valley.

Interviews with Chief Namoks (John Ridsdale), Gladys Atrill, Taylor Bachrach, Tina Portman, Kevin Pegg, Nathan Cullen, and Smithers Secondary Student climate strikers.

Music thanks to the locally talented Los Gringos Salvajes and Rachelle van Zanten

This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory between August and October 2019 and is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at 54DegreesNorthPodcast@gmail.com. 

In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear how forests around the Bulkley Valley have been impacted by pathogens and droughts (bugs and wildfires are in another episode), and stories on how these changes are affecting the people and ecology. We also hear how trees suck, in a good way.

Interviews with Chief Namoks (John Ridsdale), Will MacKenzie, Alex Woods, Richard Wright, Alana Clason, and Jim Pojar. 

Music thanks to the locally talented Los Gringos Salvajes and Rachelle van Zanten

This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory between August and October 2019 and is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at 54DegreesNorthPodcast@gmail.com. 

In this episode of 54 degrees North, we learn about bugs in the Bulkley Valley. Listen to the stories and science about insect impacts to our environment and potentially our health as a result of a warming world.
 
Interviews with Jim Pojar, Ken White, Chief Namoks (John Ridsdale), Nick Meyer, Felix Gastiazoro, and Amanda Follett Hosgood.

Music thanks to locally talented Los Gringos Salvajes and Rachelle van Zanten

This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory between August and October 2019 and is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at 54DegreesNorthPodcast@gmail.com. 

It has always been predicted that climate change would bring more extreme and less predictable weather events. In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear the science and stories behind wildfires and other extreme weather events in the Bulkley Valley. These impact not only our ecology, but our psyche as smoky days feel apocalyptic.

Interviews with Chief Namoks (John Ridsdale), Dr. Jim Pojar, Vanessa Foord, Rachelle van Zanten, and Taylor Bachrach. Thanks to CBC public radio for news clips.

Music thanks to the locally talented Los Gringos Salvajes and Rachelle van Zanten

This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory between August and October 2019 and is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at 54DegreesNorthPodcast@gmail.com 

In this episode of 54 degrees North, we hear how salmon and steelhead are being impacted by climate change. Salmon often unite people across the Skeena watershed and this time should be no different. Listen to the stories and science behind our declining wild salmon.

Interviews with Chief Namoks (John Ridsdale), Lucia Gastiazoro, Michael Price, Richard Wright, Freda Huson, Shannon McPhail and Carrie Collingwood.

Music thanks to the locally talented Los Gringos Salvajes and Rachelle van Zanten

This episode was recorded on unceded Witsuwit’en territory between August and October 2019 and is produced by Nikki Skuce (@nikkiskuce) and edited with the help of Pam Haasen (@hampaasen). Contact us at 54DegreesNorthPodcast@gmail.com