Mining Moratorium "...the government of Yukon announced that seven companies have given up over 5,000 of the more than 7,000 mining claims in conservation areas identified in the Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan that was approved in August 2019.
The Newmont Corporation, a gold mining company based in Colorado, gave up the most claims, relinquishing just over 1800.
Bernard Kreft, Generic Gold and ATAC Resources are among the other companies that have given up their claims.
First Nation of Na-cho Nyk Dun would have preferred the claims were never approved
The Peel Watershed is the traditional territory of three Yukon First Nations, one of which is the First Nation of Na-cho Nyk Dun.
Na-cho Nyk Dun says that they welcome the news of companies giving up their claims, but they would have preferred that the government of Yukon never approved the claims in the first place."