Brown's Creek Blockade

The court has reserved their decision until February 26, 2010 at 9:15 a.m. to decide if they are going to issue an enforcement order to remove the blockade erected by the Okanagan Nation to protect this critical watershed.  Tolko Lumber is seeking to clearcut a number of cut blocks in this very sensitive area that Okanagan people depend on for their water supply.  The Okanagan Indian Band has been patiently trying to get recognition of their Aboriginal Title in this area since 1999 when they were given a BC Stop Work Order for taking some trees to build houses for their community without getting a permit from the British Columbia government.  The province of British Columbia has been using every kind of legal procedural motion to avoid going to court on recognition of Aboriginal Title.  Despite the province engaging in this stalling strategy for the last 11 years is now trying pursue a business-as-usual approach by supporting Tolko to clear cut this water supply source.

The Okanagan Indian Band has the full support of their people and are determined to protect their watershed.  The map below shows how the province is over harvesting the forests and destroying the ecological biodiversity our Indigenous culture needs to survive.  Some of the speakers at the community meeting said that at the information check point, neighbours not living on the reserve said they support what they are doing because they know that the forests are an integral part of sustaining a regular supply of clean water. 

Tolko Lumber tried to generate violence against the peoples of the Okanagan Indian Band through accusing the roadblock as being the reason why they needed to lay off 200 people in a local milling town.  Chief Fabian Alexis repudiated that accusation in the attached press release.

It is appropriate to mention that the Chief and Council of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) stopped Platinex from engaging in mining exploration in a sensitive watershed they wanted to protect.  KI is a fly in community 600 km north of Thunder Bay, Ontario.  The Chief and Council, known as the KI 6 were sentenced to 6 month in jail when they never abided by an injunction and enforcement order issued against them.  The KI 6 were released by the Ontario Court of Appeal after serving 70+ days in jail.  After being released and after Platinex tried to continue their mining exploration, Chief Donny Morris prevented Platinex from landing in their watershed by running his boat under the float plane so it could not land.  This kind of determination resulted in the Ontario government buying out Platinex for $5 million dollars and the site has been restricted from being claimed under the Mining Act.  

I had a wonderful time traveling today with Okanagan Elder Wilky Louie and long time Secwepemc activist and Elder Wolverine.  They are a full resource of traditional knowledge, language and culture.