Squamish Nation's Youth E (Environment) Team surveys redcedars in the Elaho and learns how to harvest and use cedar bark.
SQUAMISH FIRST NATION
The Elaho and Sims Valleys, key areas of the Stoltmann Wilderness, lie entirely within the Squamish First Nation's traditional territory.
Their entire territory, about 6,732 square kilometers in size, comprises the watersheds of Howe Sound, the Squamish River system and Burrard Inlet. About 3,000 people are Squamish through birthright or marriage. Squamish Nation "Indian Reserves" established by the federal government cover about 2850 hectares or 0.423% of their traditional territory. The Squamish First Nation has never ceded nor sold any part of their traditional territory. They are currently involved in treaty negotiations with the governments of B.C. and Canada to resolve land title and rights.
In June of 2000, the Squamish First Nation Council struck a special committee to investigate Tribal Park status for the Upper Elaho and Sims Creek. At about the same time it also began negotiations with Interfor to try to come to an agreement on which areas of their territory would be open to logging and which areas would be off-limits.
Since 1995 Squamish First Nation elected Chief Councilor Bill Williams has given his time to lead the "Witness Program" --- a series of weekendcampouts to the Sims Valley designed to educate people about Squamish history and culture, the wilderness that is their territory and the clearcut logging that is destroying it.
For additional information about the Squamish Nation visit their web-site www.squamish.net
Charles Caccia, Liberal MP, advocates National Park Reserve to protect the Stoltmann Wilderness
John Reynolds, Canadian Alliance MP who represents the area, fights against new national park creation in British Columbia.
Canada's longest sitting Member of Parliament is also one of its greenest. In contrast to many elected officials who support big business or big union interests that are detrimental to the environment, Charles Caccia, who served as Environment Minister under Trudeau, stands out as a straight-talking politician of high principle who has consistently supported greater environmental protection and an expanded National Park system across Canada, starting with South Moresby (Gwaii Haanas).
In 1999 Mr. Caccia, Member of Parliament for Davenport, Ontario, introduced Private Members' Bill C-236 An Act to amend the National Parks Act (Stoltmann National Park). His Bill, which called for the establishment of a 500,000 hectare National Park Reserve covering the entire Stoltmann Wilderness, received First Reading on October 18,1999 then went on to a full House debate on November 24, 1999. Like most Private Members' Bills, Bill C-236 did not go on to become law. But it did serve notice to Honourable Sheila Copps, Canada's Heritage Minister in charge of National Parks, that the Stoltmann Wilderness is one of Canada's hottest conservation hot spots.
Mr. Caccia's Bill also managed to "smoke out" the main opposition to preserving the Stoltmann Wilderness---Canadian Alliance MP John Reynolds, who represents West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast. Mr. Reynolds informed the House that his riding already has enough parks and, in his opinion, Interfor is "a good corporate citizen" that "leads the industry in the use of environmentally sensitive harvesting methods".
To read the Hansard account of Mr. Caccia's debate in favour of preserving the Stoltmann Wilderness and Mr. Reynolds' support of logging it, go to www.wildernesscommittee.org/stoltmann/hoc_cover.html
