Native protest could torpedo plans for National Park

The First Nations National Day of Action was used to address an important issue in Keremeos last Thursday when the Lower Similkameen Indian Band used the occasion to state, unequivocally, their position on the National Park issue in the Okanagan-Similkameen.

“There is no more park issue,” LSIB Chief Joe Dennis said to a boisterous round of applause. The band said “no” to a National Park within their territory.

The rally, staged between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., involved an information picket on 7th Avenue in front of Memorial Park, and a series of speeches from local First Nations chiefs. The protest was peaceful and orderly, at times taking on a picnic like atmosphere under sunny skies and warm weather.

“We came to our decision after a meeting with the Similkameen Planning Society,” Dennis said. “We want to work with everyone in the valley - we believe wholeheartedly in protection of the valley.”

Dennis said the issue was about First Nation’s land title.

“There have been fundamental flaws in the process - the government has ignored Syilx protests,” Dennis said. “I came back to this valley not to get rich, but to be rich in the environment,” he said to another round of applause. “The people of this valley have always supported our efforts to protect this valley.There are other issues on the horizon - Shanker’s Bend, coalbed methane - we need to stand up together to the protection of this valley.”

Dennis said that the band had requested a meeting with the Minister in a letter dating back to the 19th of December. There had been no response until May 27th.

Debbie Clark, Community Liasons Officer with Parks Canada also tried to speak with the band earlier in the week, but the band refused to enter into discussions with her. There were no noticeable representatives of Parks Canada at the rally.

“The government has not acted responsibly in negotiations with us,” Dennis said. “And we became tired of the ‘divide and conquer tactics of Parks Canada. They would tell one thing to us, and something else entirely to another interest group.

Mark Quaedvlieg, a local rancher who has represented ranching interests in the Park debate, expressed his appreciation for the First Nations stance. “It’s a good day,” he said. “I totally support the action. Quaedvlieg expressed his disgust with Parks Canada’s ‘wordsmithing’tactics, finding their practices “deceitful.”

“This represents yet another group who has concluded that a National Park is without merit,” declared a bouyant Gregg Norton. Norton, an Oliver orchardist who is also head of the Grasslands Coalition, a local environmental group, said that the rally represented a “huge day for our cause.”

“There are other issues surrounding the park that are equally important to the First Nations issues,” he said. “Everybody’s on board with this - it has been a uniting issue, bringing communities together and making us stronger.”

Fabian Alexis,a member of the Chief Executive Council with the Okanagan Nation Alliance, was also on hand to speak, saying that the negotiations were “clearly flawed,” and expressing frustration at the process of going through formalities like public input discussions when there minds are already made up.

“At all these meetings, any protests fall on deaf ears,” he said. “We’ve noticed that this Conservative government operates along quite stringent party lines,” he said. “If you don’t toe the line, you’re out. The province is always slinking in the background... and they have a say in certain instances.” Alexis finished by asking the question of government and bureaucracy, “What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand?”

Carole Taylor, leader of the provincial NDP said that she feels there has been inadequate consultation between stakeholders and Parks Canada.

“The government seems unwilling to do anything until there is a crisis,” she said. “And then they end up having to deal with lawsuits.” James feels that the process needs to be scrapped and started all over again.

Area MP Alex Atamenenko commented that he has been keeping Minister John Baird (Environment Minister) apprised of the park question and will be speaking to him about the latest action by the LSIB in the near future.

“I was told that the park issue is not high on the agenda at this time,” he commented.

Tom Hurd of Parks Canada said that the native protest was “a significant message that had to be taken seriously.” Hurd said that Parks Canada and their provincial partners have actively involved the First Nations in the feasibility study and are continuing to look for ways to move forward.

“A lot can be accomplished by working together at the local level,” he said. “We have to listen and try to find a way forward - the feasibility study was to be finished by 2008, but we are prepared to take the time to address outstanding issues with the First Nations.”

When asked about Parks Canada’s efforts to come to terms with other stakeholders, Hurd replied, “The challenge in the South Okanagan - Lower Similkameen is build a proposal that reflects the interests of all groups, to find ways to accommodate them. There are potential benefits, and further discussion is warranted.” Hurd welcomed interested citizens to call local parks staff (250) 490-2238 if they have any questions. A website at www.pc.gc.ca/sols also has information on the park proposal.

Regional District Area ‘G’ Director Joe Nitsch expressed an interest in getting a fair deal for everyone in the area. “I don’t believe the park would be a net benefit to the community,” he said, but he felt the pro park side should have an opportunity to show the community what some of the benefits should be.