Sekw’el’was Media Advisory: Lands will be blocked effective 7:00 am Jan 17, 2014 Sekw’el’was (St’at’imc Territory) - Heavy equipment is currently working in the Cayoose Creek, near the town of Lillooet. They are installing a water intake, chewing up and destroying vital fish habitat including spawning beds and incubating eggs. This work is proceeding without adequate consultation with Sekw’el’was. Salmon and Salmon habitat is of critical importance to Sekw’el’was as salmon are the foundation of our culture and sustenance. Any loss to this resource negatively impacts our cultural practices and economic practices including title and rights. There is a long standing dispute between Sekw’el’was and the District of Lillooet over the ownership of the lands on which the District has located the water intake. The water intake is located on Cayoose Creek historical reserve lands currently under dispute. Despite our numerous attempts to seek adequate consultation, the District of Lillooet is proceeding with their controversial water upgrade. This upgrade encroaches on Cayoose Creek Reserve lands, allows heavy equipment to enter into Cayoose Creek which raises numerous fisheries and habitat issues. These include: · Incubating eggs are being smothered by construction infrastructure. · This section of the river is vital to Coho, Steelhead, Chinook, Pink, Sockeye, and Bull trout, for spawning, resting, and fry-rearing. · Adverse impacts to salmon directly translate into negative impacts on bear (already threatened), eagles, owls, Blue Heron, and the shade trees that keep the water cool. Sekw’el’was, together with other St’at’imc communities, are caretakers of the watershed and we take seriously our responsibilities to its governance and conservation. The watershed is important salmon habitat for Coho, chinook, sockeye, and pinks. It is also home to steelhead and trout. This section of Cayoose Creek is only seven kilometres long and is already impacted by four hydro-dams. We are at the tipping point with the health of this river and the life it sustains - wildlife, plants, soil, air and humans. Lillooet has been on notice for decades that Sekw’el’was asserts that these lands are part of our reserve. It is unconscionable that Lillooet would fast-track this construction without acknowledging we have long-standing claims on this land. As well, Lillooet knows we are appealing this project to the provincial Environmental Appeal Board. As well, we have notified the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Ministry of Forest Lands, and Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Environment of our concerns. All government agencies have side-stepped their due diligence and have failed to uphold the honour of the Crown. As a consequence, we are notifying the public and interested parties that access to these lands will be blocked effective 7:00 am January 17, 2014. For Information: Chief Michelle Edwards (250) 256- 9471
Posted on: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 03:56:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015