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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Lost Valley is located west of Lillooet in the Cayoosh Range and falls within St'át'imc territory. The valley is 10,000 hectares in size and has no roads. It has never been logged and is home to wildlife such as mule deer, mountain goat, spotted owl and grizzly bear.
Lost Valley has numerous cultural features which demonstrate a long history of sustainable use by aboriginal people. These sites include: redcedar trees scarred by past bark and wood harvesting; cache pits used by native hunters to store food and supplies and; an ancient trail that traverses the length of the valley. There are many stories concerning the history of Lost Valley that have been passed down by generations of St'át'imc.
Lost Valley has long been recognized by various Provincial government agencies and planning processes for its extremely high wildlife and aboriginal cultural values.
In 1993 the BC government's Kamloops Regional Protected Areas Team proposed the Melvin and adjacent Lost Valley drainages for protection because of high wildlife values, including mountain goat and grizzly bear. In April 2001, the NDP government of Premier Ujjal Dosanjh announced that as a result of the government's recently completed Lillooet land and resource management plan, Lost Valley would become a First Nations' deferral area, where no development could take place pending negotiations with the St'át'imc.
However, the provincial government through its BC Timber Sales program now has plans to log Lost Valley.
The St'at'imc have produced a land use plan for the northern part of their territory which includes Lost Valley. The plan designates significant areas of the territory as Protection Areas, which are off-limits to industrial developments such as logging and mining. Lost Valley along with Melvin Creek Valley have been designated by the St'at'imc as Protection Areas.
Western Canada Wilderness Committee strongly supports the St'át'imc land use plan and opposes the plans by BC Timber Sales to log Lost Valley.
Take action to protect Lost Valley. Contact Rich Coleman, Minister of Forests and Range and Minister responsible for Housing, and tell him you want to see protection lost Valley and an adherence to the St'at'imc Nations' land use planning process. A simple typed or handwritten letter carries enormous weight and is considered to represent 500 like- minded citizens. If you do not have time to write a letter, take five minutes to contact Minister de Jong by phone, fax or email.
Your actions can make a difference on this issue.
Honourable Rich Coleman, Minister of Forests and Range and Minister responsible for HousingRoom 128
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC
V8V 1X4
Phone: 250 387-6240
Fax: 250 387-1040
rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca
