May 1st, 2007 Update: PEACEFUL PROTEST AT BLACKWATER
BC TIMBER SALES SOLD OFF LICENSE TO LOG CULTURAL TRADITIONAL TERRITORY
PRIME PINE-MUSHROOM PICKING GROUNDS AND WILDLIFE THREATENED
DESPITE LONGSTANDING OPPOSITION
The people of N’Quatqua, D’Arcy, Devine, and Blackwater reject the province of BC’s decision to log a bio-diverse forest in Blackwater, north of Pemberton. Stretching from 1 km to 10 km on Blackwater Creek, the road leads to Birkenhead Provincial Park. Following a Community Forum earlier last month, N’Quatqua held a Sacred Fire Earth Day weekend joined by supporters from near and far. Following a ceremonial prayer by a N’Quatqua Elder, a large group toured and surveyed the sold cut block in Blackwater, sharing strong concerns about wildlife and other issues in this multi-used forest, a habitat for grizzlies and especially Spotted Owls endangered with only 16 remaining in Canada.
At stake is a 31 hectares of forest heavily used and traditionally enjoyed by both native and non-native communities and tourists. During consultations with St’at’imc and nearby residents, BCTS was made aware that any logging in this region will have a devastating impact on the sensitive ecosystem which includes wildlife, frog migration, pine and white chantrelle mushroom, bog cranberries, huckleberries, and other medicinal plants and herbs which are all culturally and economically significant for the people of the St’at’imc Nation and others.
Despite repeated requests and meetings, BCTS failed to meaningfully consult with the communities in the region. Furthermore, the successful bidder, Lizzie Bay Logging Co. is preparing to log the area, continuing to ignore warnings about a potential dispute around this particular cut-block. For many years previously, this area has been designated as BPMMA: Blackwater Pine-Mushroom Management Area. The maps they provide do not reflect a reasonable accommodation of the concerns and interests presented in terms of accommodation and consultation as described by both BC and Canada’s courts.
Pine mushrooms take about 60 – 80 years to regenerate in an undisturbed forest. Sold cut block #002 happens to be a heavily used picking ground for pine mushrooms particularly for elders because of easy access from the road and the flat terrain. Six other blocks are pending harvesting approval and proposed roads to these blocks are mapped out. Proposed ‘strip-logging’ method will do as much damage to the forest floor as a ‘clear cut’.
Blackwater ecosystem is irreplaceable: once this area is logged, it will never be the same again for generations to come. A widespread petition campaign is underway, with 450 signatures collected so far and sent to the province, requesting to outlaw all future logging and development in Blackwater area and to have this designated as a protected environment. People from the nearby communities including the N’Quatqua Band reps are continuing to work together to find ways to protect this region from this insensitive disrespectful logging operation.
We continue to call on all cultural and recreational users/experts of this region to provide support statements. The Blackwater Stewardship Group is planning a Weekend Event inviting everyone interested in preserving this traditional territory to come out to Blackwater Lake in mid-June. Further details to follow. SHAME ON B.C. TIMBER SALES AND LIZZIE BAY LOGGING CO!!
How you can help:
1) Signing a Petition at: Devine Transfer Station; The Pony Express; and Solstice Organics in Pemberton.
2) Submit a letter describing how you use this region and sent to:
saveblackwater@gmail.com or mail to c/o SAVE BLACKWATER: Box 1713, D’Arcy BC, V0N 1L0
For more info: Call Shirley 604-452-3373 or Ryan Peters 452-3396 visit www. saveblackwaterbc.org
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