Tahltan Elder
For Ed Asp, prospecting and trapping is a way of life. His father was a placer miner (placer is a deposit of sand and gravel containing valuable metals such as gold, tin or diamonds) and it felt right that Ed would follow in his father’s footsteps, prospecting and trapping to support his family.
Today, Ed is his own boss. He doesn’t believe in working for someone else. And likes the freedom self-employment provides. From being able to set up a diamond drill, to owning his own drilling companies, to doing testing and other environmental work, Ed’s done it all.
Over the past 40 years, Ed has been on hundreds of claim staking projects. He’s always liked working outside and he believes that working for yourself is very rewarding. But, he’s quick to point out that one of the best ways for young people to get experience is to work with mineral exploration companies.
“You need to develop your bush skills and get some experience, if you’re interested in mineral exploration and mining. And start reading. Take courses. Show initiative and self-reliance. But remember to be realistic. Because you’re not going to head out into the bush and be a big earner from the get-go. You have to pay your dues first.”
For Ed, it’s important young people get involved in the consultation process for projects. “Some aspects of exploration can really impact traditional values, so it’s important to have a voice and get involved. Consultation is an intricate part of the Environmental Assessment piece for all projects, so have a say in what goes on in your community.”