Ross River Dena Council granted extension of staking moratorium

The Ross River Dena Council in Yukon says it asked for an extension of the moratorium on mineral staking in its territory.

The staking ban was set to be lifted at the end of January. But the Yukon government has announced it will be extended for two years, until 2017.

The moratorium has been in place since December of 2013, after an appeal court ruled in Ross River's favour.

The First Nation had challenged the government's right to issue mining claims on its territory.

Ross River and Yukon have been negotiating what consultation will look like, and where development can occur.

"There isn't a process in place now that deals with aboriginal right and title to the Kaska, and more specifically, the Ross River Dena Council," said Chief Brian Ladue of the Ross River Dena Council.

Ladue said Ross River will take its time to develop a final land use plan and to determine which of its lands will be open for mineral staking and other development.

Ladue said negotiations continue on what percentage of the First Nations' land will be protected.

He added that recent court rulings support Ross River's position.

"The First Nation has aboriginal right and title includes rights to the mineral resources as well."