Road would ruin pictographs
A logging road through the lower Stein River Valley would result in the destruction of nine known Klaka'pxm rock painting sites, including the third largest pictograph panel in British Columbia.
In a region of the province where Indian rock art in its original setting is becoming increasingly rare, the destruction of these important sites is nothing less than criminal.
An industry-sponsored impact assessment of heritage sites along the proposed right of way claims that the logging road will not disrupt rock painting sites along the route. The totally inadequate study by archeologists Ian Wilson was paid for by B.C. Forest Products. Wilson's ludicrous conclusion is only matched by his inept survey of the lower Stein Valley. His investigation conveniently missed Ts'ets'ekw the largest rock painting site in the Stein watershed, a site that would be wrecked by road construction.
Pushing the logging toad through this area wold be analogous to building a highway trhough a cathedral but promising to leave the stained glass intact.
Ts'ets'ekw which is Nlaka'pxm for "markings" is located 4.3 km from the trailhead in the narrow Stein Canyon at the well-known Devil's Staircase. The setting of Ts'ets'ekw is spectacular; the face of the cliff is streaked with shining mica. The rushing sound of the river close by echoes of the cliffs. Painted along the base of the rock wall, for more than a 100 feet, are 124 red pictographs. Images include the famous owl; nine paintings of double-headed serpents including one 3.5 metres long; a possible battle scene; and a happy-looking earth goddess painted high above the ground. Some of the paintings at this important site are among the largest in the B.C. Interior.
The Ts'ets'ekw site would be ruined by road construction. The proposed road would cut across the top of the cliff directly above the paintings . It is possible to prevent rock from falling down and damaging the site. In the drier months, clouds of dust would ad to its desecration. pushing a logging road through this area would be analogous to building a highway through a cathedral but promising to leave the stained glass intact.
The B.C. Forest Products-sponsored report, which not only overlooked Ts'ets'ekw but also another important site 200 metres downstream, is constantly being referred to by deputy ministers and others as proof that heritage sites in the Stein River Valley are safe from destruction.
But we already know that road building and rock art don't mix. Increased vehicle access to any site puts it in immediate danger of vandalism. One of the largest concentrations if rock painting sites in the Interior is the "Pictograph Stretch" located along what was once an Indian trail on the north side of the Similkameen River between Pricenton and Hedley. This became the Dewdney Trail in the 1860's a stagecoach route in the early 1900's and then Highway 3 until its relocation to the south side of the river.
At one time the 30 sets of paintings could be seen along the road. Since 1963 at least 10 sets of pictographs have been buried or blasted by highway crews and during a carelessly completed pipeline porject. In addition ]the trees which surrounded and protected many of the painted boulders along the road were cut down a few years ago leaving the paintings even more exposed to the elements and to vandals' spray cans.
The location of the Keremeos Creek site, just off Highway 3 north of Olalla, was identified some years ago by a roadside sign. Within months several of the paintings at the site were chalked or chiselled. One large pictograph was battered in an attempt to remove it and another was used as a rifle target. Beer bottles littered the site. Concerned about the vandalism some members of the Archeological Society of British Columbia removed the highway sign only to find it replaced a few months later. They took it down a second time and threw it in the bush where it lies to this day.
A logging road must never be allowed to desecrate the sanctuaries of the Stein River. This valley is the only place in Interior B.C. where a person can hike along a native Indian highway and view rock paintings as they were meant to be seen in their original settings. The rock art sites are important not only to the Nlaka'pxm Nation, but to all Canadians. These are world class heritage sites and should be recognized and protected.
