Nov 24/98: St'at'imc take action against BC NDP

Nov 24/98: St'at'imc take action against BC NDP ST'AT'IMC TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT BC NDP GOVERNMENT & AINSWORTH LUMBER FROM LOGGING ST'AT'IMC LAND Seton Lake Band, CP 146 Tuesday, November 24, 1998 The Seton Lake Band (Tsal7alh) have moved into action to prevent the Government of BC and Ainsworth Lumber Company from logging the south side of Seton Lake. The Seton community has set up Delgamuuk'w Inn as a checkpoint on the forestry road presently under construction at CP 146. This checkpoint will remain as long as cecessary to prevent corporate logging on that side of Seton Lake. The proposed logging would destroy valuable cultural sites, hunting areas and the ability of the community to develop other more sensitive economic opportunities for the area. Seven St'at'imc Chiefs have come together in support of this cause. We expect all eleven St'at'imc communities to be in support of this action. The Seton Band community asks the people of the St'at'imc Nation and the people of Lillooet to assist them in their struggle. Please speak out to halt the road building and logging activities on the south side of Seton Lake. The people have asked for unity to fight for this worthy cause. Let's move back onto our St'at'imc traditional lands! Let's stand together and let our voices be heard! Donations welcome! Takem nsnukwnukw7a - All My Relations! SETON COMMUNITY POSITION STATEMENT * The consultation process established by the Government of BC for harvesting timber on unceded St'at'imc territory is inconsistent with the judgement handed down by the Supreme Court of Canada in Delgamuuk'w. * Cultural and archaeological heritage sites are located throughout the proposed road building and cutting permit area. * The findings of Altamira, the Alberta archaeological firm hired by Ainsworth, that no archaeological sites would be impacted by Ainsworth's activities in CP 146 are in serious conflict with the findings of LTC's Marie Barney and Sue Montgomery of Creekside Resources Ltd. * Given the threats posed by the proposed logging to St'at'imc heritage and appropriate Seton community development plans, the community of Seton Lake, with the support of the Lillooet, Pavilion, Fountain, Bridge River, Cayoose Creek and Mount Currie communities will take whatever action that may be required to prevent the destruction of this extremely important part of our history and economy. ST'AT'IMC ALERT: CONTEXT OF CURRENT ACTION On November 12, 1998, the St'at'imc Chiefs met with representatives from the BC Ministry of Forests, Ainsworth Lumber Company, District of Lillooet, Provincial MLA's office and private contractors for the purpose of resolving the conflict surrounding Cutting Permit 146 (South Seton). The meeting agreed to submit their concerns to a mediation process under terms of reference to be drafted by representatives from St'at'imc, Ainsworth and the Ministry of Forests. One of the key goals of the mediation process is to seek alternative sources of wood since the community of Seton Lake strongly object to any corporate harvesting activity on the south shore of Seton Lake. After almost two hours of what St'at'imc representatives believed to be honorable discussions, they were notified that the cutting permit had been issued two days earlier. This came as a total shock to St'at'imc representatives. Unless circumstances are to change, St'at'imc representative Chiefs see no reason to continue the mediation process and are forced by circumstances to take immediate action to protect the area for which the cutting permit was issued. IT'S TIME TO ACT. SACRED COUNCIL FIRES Welcome to our Council Fires. Five Sacred Fires are burning; one for each of the four directions and one central Fire at the Delgamuukw Inn, on the south side of Seton Lake, opposite Retaskit. The Council Fires are places where people can come to talk together, to ask questions and to seek answers. Council Fires are a way of raising awareness of who we are, where we are, and what our visions are for the future. The Sacred Fire has long been one of the ways for our people to connect spiritually with the Creator and with each other. In lighting and tending these fires we pray to the Creator for the peaceful and just resolution of disputes among peoples. We welcome your visit. Council Fires located at Sekw'el'was, Lilwat, Ts'kw'aylaxw and Chalath. DELGAMUUK'W INN ...is a camp and Sacred Fire set up on the south side of Seton Lake, on the new road being built by Ainsworth Lumber Company, Ltd. The camp is occupied by members of the St'at'imc Nation. The camp is a check point to prevent any further construction of the logging road. YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED: food, funds and other supplies will be appreciated. All donations can be sent to the Lillooet Tribal Council office Ph (250) 256-7523. LTC will ensure that all donations go to support Delgamuuk'w Inn. BRUTISH COLUMBIA, KKKANADA - BUILT AND MAINTAINED BY ECOCIDE & GENOCIDE NO LOGGING OR ROADING ON UNCEDED ST'AT'IMC LAND WITHOUT CONSENT! Glen Clark, Premier of British Columbia: premier@gov.bc.ca Ainsworth Lumber Company: info@ainsworth.ca Ainsworth Chief Forester: timR@ainsworth.ca cc to Union of BC Indian Chiefs: ubcic@bc.sympatico.ca