Inspiring Young Tahltans – Ben Chief / Jamie Dennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

INSPIRING YOUNG TAHLTANS

Jamie Dennis

The Komatsu 7000 shovel is a 1.45-million-pound machine at the Red Chris Mine that can move upwards of 110,000 lbs of rock per bucket load and is the most critical piece of equipment for moving mineral rich ore. Safe and efficient operation of this monster machine is the cornerstone of the mining operation and running it is not for the faint of heart.

With her goals set on the top, Jamie Dennis worked her way from a janitorial position to operating the goliath shovel.

Jamie Dennis is a thirty-five-year-old Tahltan woman who is part of the Crow clan and the Simgaltadta family. Her grandparents are Thomas and Doris Dennis, and her parents are Cliff and June Dennis. She currently lives in Williams Lake with her boyfriend, Sean Marklinger, and her two step kids – Myles and Myah.

Jamie grew up in Iskut, BC without thinking about working in mining. She spent her time going to school, hunting with her dad, and learning from her grandpa who owned a guide outfitter business. While attending high school, her cousin operated heavy equipment for the underground mining company Procon. Intrigued, Jamie decided to follow in her cousin’s footsteps and give mining a try. She began working as a janitor in various mining camps, but soon was given the opportunity to operate a thirty-ton rock truck with TNDC. After working at various locations with TNDC, she decided to apply for full-time employment with Imperial Metals at the Red Chris Mine.

Upon starting work at Red Chris, Jamie was put on the 777-rock truck which hauls 100 tons per load making it a huge step up from the 30-ton truck. A year later, she stepped up again and started driving the 793-haul truck which hauls upwards of 230 tons or around 550,000 pounds of material. She said it was nerve racking driving the largest truck on site but with training and practice she learned to operate safely and efficiently.

With every promotion, Jamie wanted to try new things and soon asked her supervisor to operate one of the excavators on site. She started on small excavators building berms and working in the pit until 2019 when she began operating the 813,506 lb Hitachi 3600 shovel which carries 40 tons per bucket. She says her brother Shaun Dennis and friend Peter Jakesta were instrumental to her learning and taught her how to operate the machine effectively.

With her eyes set on the top, she soon started operating the largest excavator on site, the Komatsu 7000 which weighs a staggering 1.45 million lbs and moves 38 cubic metres or upwards of 110,000 lbs of material per bucket load. With this she became the first Indigenous women to operate the largest excavator at site, an amazing accomplishment.

When Jamie started working in mining industry, she thought she would never be able to operate any big equipment but decided to defy the odds and set her sights on the biggest shovel on site. With consistency and determination, she reached her goal and continues to be a cornerstone for the Red Chris Mine. On her off-time Jamie loves to spend time with her family camping and fishing. She says that achieving your goals does not come easily but with consistency, anything is possible.