[van-announce] Keep up the Pressure: Sutikalh: It takes a whole community to stop a ski resort

[No One is Illegal-Vancouver]

There has been much pressure in the past week by the Stat'imc Nation to
block the license extension at Cayoosh. We strongly urge people to
continue to write in to John Bones, the Environmental Assessment Officer,
who will be making his decision within the coming weeks.

Some recent articles from the Vancouver Sun and Globe and Mail:

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=1e14da64-c49d-41c3-b35
b-2bf3a3dec1a0

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050728/BCABORIGINAL28//?query=Natives+bent+on+halting+resort



SUTIKALH- IT TAKES A WHOLE COMMUNITY TO STOP A SKI RESORT

WRITE TODAY!

For more background information: http://sutikalh.resist.ca


In a recent update from Sutikalh camp, Rosalin Sam has requested
supporters to contact the Environmental Assessment Office regarding the
extension of a building certificate that was issued to Al Raine and Nancy
Green-Raine to build Cayoosh Ski Resort in Melvin Creek in August 2000.
The resort developers are being forced to apply for an extension since
building has been substantially "behind schedule" due to the growing
pressure against the resort and increasing support for the five-year camp
at Sutikalh. The granting of this extension is dependent on another full
Environmental Assessment of the development.

John Bones, the Environmental Assessment Officer, has specifically
mentioned that he is waiting for more input about the resort from
concerned community members. Although we realize that letter-writing
campaigns are frequently viewed as being unsuccessful or that they do not
make much of a difference, in this case, it is likely that such a campaign
(coupled with the strength and conviction of the Sutikalh Camp) will have
a significant impact on the Environmental Assessment. We strongly urge
people to take a minute to send a letter or fax (email is the least
preffered method) to John Bones stating your opposition to the Cayoosh Ski
Resort.

Sample letter and contact information included below.

For more information:
Chief Garry John At 250-256-7523 or 604-868-8560
Rosalin Sam at 604-894-2400
In Vancouver, email No One is Illegal Vancouver at noii-van at resist.ca

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

John Bones
Project Assessment Director
Environmental Assessment Office
PO BOX 9426 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC, V8W9V1
Phone (250) 387-1447
Fax (250) 356-6448
Email: John.Bones at gems3.gov.bc.ca


ATT:    John Bones
        Project Assessment Director
        Environmental Assessment Office

RE: Proposed Cayoosh Ski Resort development by NGR
Inc. in Melvin Creek

Mr. Bones,

I am writing to you to express my absolute opposition to Nancy Greene
Raine (NGR) Inc.’s proposed development of the Cayoosh Ski Resort in
Melvin Creek.

The proposed ski resort would entail destructive development on St'at'imc
territory – lands which remain unceded and are recognized as such by the
Canadian constitution. The St’at’imc communities have remained adamantly
opposed to this 500 million dollar project for over five years. They have
made their opposition clear through petitions, protests, and the
establishment of the Sutikalh camp which they have occupied for close to
63 months now. In August, 2000, the Lillooet Tribal Council issued a
letter to NGR Inc., signed by all 11 chiefs, rejecting the ski resort. The
St’at’imc Nation continues to assert that they won’t tolerate any
development on their territory in Melvin Creek.

Initially, the government's own Environment Ministry, Kamloops region,
advised against any development in the Cayoosh and Melvin Creek
watersheds, citing high wildlife values, especially Grizzly Bear and
Mountain Goat habitat. The St'at'imc have also received public support
from various Aboriginal groups, including the Interior Alliance (band
councils of the Southern Carrier, St'at'imc, Secwepemc, Nlaka'pamux and
Okanagain), the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), the Native Youth
Movement (NYM), and the Cheam First Nation. Several environmental groups
are also opposed to the Cayoosh resort, including the Society Promoting
Environmental Conservation (SPEC), the Western Canada Wilderness Committee
(WCWC), Sierra Club and even former government biologists.

For the St’at’imc people, as for all Indigenous peoples, the integrity of
their ancestral territories is fundamental for the survival of their
language, culture and future generations. Furthermore, despite
claims from NGR Inc. and the BC government, this 14,000 person capacity
ski resort would have devastating effects on the local environment and
wildlife.

According to a financial analysis and market assessment by the
Environmental Assessment Office, the BC government stands to make a $1.1
billion profit upon project completion. This fact is not lost on community
members or allies; nor is the fact that the impending 2010 Winter Olympics
provide further incentive to the government to approve NGR Inc.’s project
regardless of its unconstitutionality, violation of basic human rights and
wide range of adverse effects.

In solidarity with the St’at’imc people, therefore, I request that your
office reject NGR Inc.’s proposal for the development of the Cayoosh Ski
Resort in Melvin Creek.

Sincerely,


-- 
No One is Illegal-Vancouver
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