Wilderness Committee Joins Okanagan Indian Band Protest in Drinking Watershed near Vernon
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The Wilderness Committee is heading to the Okanagan Indian Reserve near Vernon today to stand in solidarity with band members intent on stopping logging by Tolko Industries within the Brown’s Creek watershed, a drinking water and irrigation supply for citizens in the Vernon area.
“The Brown’s Creek watershed has been subject to a lot of logging over the years and now is the time to either stop the logging once and for all, or develop a thoughtful management plan that prioritizes forest and water health”, said Andy Miller, Wilderness Committee staff scientist.
Band members voted unanimously at a February 14 meeting to support a motion mandating band leaders to protect the watershed. Pickets have now been set up and the band is refusing to allow Tolko access through band lands to access the area. Tolko is seeking a BC Supreme Court enforcement order today that, if granted, could result in RCMP removing protesters from the site.
The struggle to limit logging and other forms of development within the Okanagan bands territory while the band resolves title issues with government dates to the 1890’s, when 25,000 ha of band land was removed by government. The Okanagan Indian band feels strongly that the land in question, which includes parts of the Brown’s Creek watershed, is reserve land; and that while the question of title and the return of these lands to the band is before the courts, industry groups like Tolko should be respectful and refrain from logging.
The current action to protect forests in the Brown’s Creek watershed is based on a February 2010 BC court ruling approving Tolko to log in the watershed. Upon receiving the February 2010 court decision, Tolko immediately began readying equipment to begin logging, despite the fact that court ordered archeological assessments have not been initiated. Tolko’s plan to conduct the archeological studies and intent to move logging equipment into the area while deep snow blankets the ground has further inflamed tensions with the band because such assessments cannot meaningfully be conducted until the site is snow free.
The Wilderness Committee is standing in solidarity with the Okanagan Band, but will not interfere with a court order or the RCMP. “The Wilderness Committee will stand aside if RCMP request us to do so” said Miller. “What we will do is to request that the BC government initiate and complete a joint management plan with the band for the Browns Creek watershed to guide resource management decision-making while the issue of title remains unresolved.”
-30-
For more information please contact: Andy Miller, staff scientist, Wilderness Committee, 604-992-3099.
Photo: Brown's Creek Watershed
“The Brown’s Creek watershed has been subject to a lot of logging over the years and now is the time to either stop the logging once and for all, or develop a thoughtful management plan that prioritizes forest and water health”, said Andy Miller, Wilderness Committee staff scientist.
Band members voted unanimously at a February 14 meeting to support a motion mandating band leaders to protect the watershed. Pickets have now been set up and the band is refusing to allow Tolko access through band lands to access the area. Tolko is seeking a BC Supreme Court enforcement order today that, if granted, could result in RCMP removing protesters from the site.
The struggle to limit logging and other forms of development within the Okanagan bands territory while the band resolves title issues with government dates to the 1890’s, when 25,000 ha of band land was removed by government. The Okanagan Indian band feels strongly that the land in question, which includes parts of the Brown’s Creek watershed, is reserve land; and that while the question of title and the return of these lands to the band is before the courts, industry groups like Tolko should be respectful and refrain from logging.
The current action to protect forests in the Brown’s Creek watershed is based on a February 2010 BC court ruling approving Tolko to log in the watershed. Upon receiving the February 2010 court decision, Tolko immediately began readying equipment to begin logging, despite the fact that court ordered archeological assessments have not been initiated. Tolko’s plan to conduct the archeological studies and intent to move logging equipment into the area while deep snow blankets the ground has further inflamed tensions with the band because such assessments cannot meaningfully be conducted until the site is snow free.
The Wilderness Committee is standing in solidarity with the Okanagan Band, but will not interfere with a court order or the RCMP. “The Wilderness Committee will stand aside if RCMP request us to do so” said Miller. “What we will do is to request that the BC government initiate and complete a joint management plan with the band for the Browns Creek watershed to guide resource management decision-making while the issue of title remains unresolved.”
-30-
For more information please contact: Andy Miller, staff scientist, Wilderness Committee, 604-992-3099.
Photo: Brown's Creek Watershed
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