[IPSM] Nquatqua/St'at'imc Blockade in D'Arcy

[Macdonald Stainsby]

http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/pique/index.php?cat=C_News&content=Blockade+1317

N'Quatqua blockade Portage Road at D'Arcy

Activists angered by chief's decision to enter forest, range agreement 
with limited consultation

Published Date: 2006-04-27   Time: 09:17:23

By Cindy Filipenko

More than 20 members of the N’Quátqua band and their supporters began 
blockading Portage Road at the entrance to D’Arcy on Monday.

The protestors claim that their elected representatives went against the 
wishes of the area residents and negotiated a logging agreement between 
The N’Quátqua Logging Company and the Pemberton’s CRB Logging Company to 
allow for the removal of 81 hectares of old growth forest in CP16 near 
Anderson Lake. The protestors’ goal is to prevent logging trucks from 
entering or exiting traditional N’Quátqua territory.

The area, which was scheduled to be logged beginning on Monday, April 
24, is winter range to mule deer. As well, it is a habitat for bobcats, 
cougars, bears, wolves and many species of birds. At least two 
endangered species, the rubber boa and the horned owl, are also indigenous.

On the highway sign reading "Entering D’Arcy", there is another sign, it 
reads: "Where are you Rich Coleman?" a reference to the forest minister. 
A few feet away is a similar handmade sign that reads: "Biologist Says No."

Blockade spokesperson Carol Thevarge makes it clear that what’s at stake 
is more than old growth timber; it’s also culture, water, animals, plant 
life, fish and the band’s heritage.

"This is a violation of our title and rights," said Thevarge. "There was 
no proper consultation process as far as we’re concerned. The majority 
of the membership here was never informed about the process."

Advertisements for consultation meetings were placed in publications on 
the other side of Anderson Lake. These newspapers do not service D’Arcy.

"The maximum number of people they say they got at a meeting was 15. We 
have 300."

The sole shareholder of the N’Quátqua Logging Company is Chief Harry 
O'Donaghey. More that 80 per cent of O’Donaghey’s constituency do not 
agree with his decision to enter into an agreement to log the area.

Thevarge said a vote revealed 81 per cent were against logging CP 16. 
Thevarge added the fact that their elected representative went ahead and 
signed a FRA (First Nations Forest And Range Agreement) was "a slap in 
the face."

A call to the N’Quátqua band office was met with a receptionist stating, 
"Chief and council are not commenting on the issue at this time. A press 
release will be coming out."

Calls placed to CRB Logging were not returned.

Protestors believe the FRA deal fails to meet the minimum standard of 
consultation and accommodation as described by B.C.'s Supreme Court, or 
by Canada's constitution, and completely fails to recognize the 
St’át’imc Nation as legitimate decision making authority on the land. 
Further, they claim that the per-capita formula of benefit sharing does 
not reflect the cash value of the logging operations.

"It’s a great loss to the community. It’s a loss for our mule deer 
range, our berry picking and natural food gathering. It’s a loss for the 
area’s wildlife. There are white wolves and spotted owls in that area. 
Our people are speaking up for those who can’t speak for themselves."

"Anecdotal evidence and evidence from hunters show that there are very 
healthy mule deer populations. There are predators around and that’s an 
indication that the population is healthy," said researcher Mike Morley.

Armed with charts and photos, Morley shows aerial shots of CP16. The 
area was originally logged 40 years ago by First Nations’ loggers who 
left stands of old growth trees in place to facilitate the mule deer 
winter range.

"It will be catastrophic when we have our first snowfall which is 
between one and two feet," Morley said. "(The deer) have to expend 
tremendous energy to get around in the snow. Without the canopy of the 
old growth forest, they expend up to 150 per cent more energy. They 
won’t be able to get to food sources – like old man’s beard – because 
they won’t be there."

An independent study conducted by Philip J. Holman, a retired forest 
ecosystem planner for the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, 
concluded that the minimum biological requirement for the survival of 
deer populations in the region was 110 ha of old growth. Clearly 
removing 80 ha will have a dramatic effect on the habitat.

"We don’t own this forest and it’s not for sale. It belongs to my 
children, my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren," said Mariko 
Kage, who identified herself as a community member and the mother of 
four St'át'imc children.

While she sees the logging as having a negative impact on future 
opportunities such as eco-tourism, her first concern is over loss of 
heritage.

"I come from Japan where I can’t recognize my culture. I lost my 
homeland because it’s covered in concrete. I can’t recognize it. And I 
have nothing to go back to. I’m half Japanese and I still mourn that 
loss. I don’t want that to happen to my kids."

Aside from providing a rich hunting ground the area is important for 
spiritual reasons.

"My sons are 13 and 14," said Thevarge. "Soon they’ll be going up the 
mountain to find their names."

Finding their names is part of a Vision Quest, a four-day fast where 
youth sit in the mountains, alone with the elements, and enter a 
meditative state to discover who they are and the purpose of their lives.

Nineteen-year-old Conrad Peters plans to settle and raise a family in 
D’Arcy in the type of natural environment he enjoyed as a child. "I’ve 
spent many of my years in the forest exploring. I really want my own 
children and their children to be able to do the same."

Peters is clearly frustrated that his chief has effectively sold out his 
people.

"It’s embarrassing to elect someone who’s thinking is opposite to the 
people who elected him," he stated.

Peters, who says he owes his politicization to being fortunate enough to 
have access to discussions with some of the band’s most educated 
activists, intends to mobilize other youth to join the blockade.

While youthful energy is present on the blockade, elders are just as 
committed.

"I have heard elders say they will die before they allow them to log out 
our territory, and that’s a big statement," said Thevarge.

Thevarge’s mother-in-law, Mary Laura Thevarge, is one of those elders 
determined the roadblock will continue. "As long as I’m around, this 
will go on. When I first started out, I did these things for me, but now 
I do them for my grandchildren and great grandchildren. I come to these 
meetings whenever they need me."

The elder Thevarge said it’s a matter of taking care of her country. "I 
call it mine. We own it. It belongs to the 11 St'át'imc bands. We are 
all one people."




-- 
Macdonald Stainsby
http://independentmedia.ca/survivingcanada
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope
    --Bertholt Brecht.