Ha-Shilth-Sa August 10, 2006

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Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product haas^i>sa “Interesting News” Vol. 33 - No. 16 - August 10, 2006 Sales Agreement No. 40047776

Clayoquot Sound watershed plans released: War of the Woods II averted By Denise August, Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Clayoquot Sound – Environmental groups are outraged after the Clayoquot Sound Central Region Board announced late July the completion of their eight remaining watershed plans (See Press Release #1 page 3). The plans, environmentalists say will open up 90,000 hectares of Clayoquot Sound to logging, including logging of the pristine valleys. BC’s Green Party Leader Adrienne Carr is on record saying the CRB decision, “to my mind, that reignites the war in Clayoquot Sound.” Pointing to the 1999 MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) signed by representatives of the Central Region First Nations and MacMillan Bloedel as co-owners of Iisaak Forest Resources Ltd., and several Environmental Groups

including Greenpeace and Western Canada Wilderness Committee; Ken Wu of WCWC says by signing, the parties agreed that logging would be okay in previously fragmented areas but not pristine valleys. Wu claims Vancouver Island valleys are already 90% logged with only five valleys out of 89 remaining intact. He blamed frequent turnovers in First Nations Chiefs & Councils over the past seven years and new council members’ lack of understanding of the MOU for poor decision making on the part of the Central Region Board. ‘...they are essentially unfamiliar with the MOU and this decision comes from that lack of familiarity with the MOU,” he charged. When asked if there would be another war in the woods he hedged, saying there will have to be more negotiating before war is declared, but the CRB decision, Continued on page 3

(L) Chief Jerry Jack hands over chieftainship to his son Jerry Jack Jr. in 2000. (Ha-Shilth-Sa archives)

The Sea Takes Jerry Jack Home Central Region Chiefs and Environmental Groups commit to By Wawmeesh, George Hamilton some 30 other crews participating in the Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Inter-Tribal Canoe Journey. While the other canoes arrived safely in Working together to find Dungeness - At age 68 Mowachaht/ Jamestown two canoes including Jack’s Muchalaht Chief Jerry Jack was doing had fallen behind and were caught in a resolution in Clayoquot what he loved - participating in the Inter- sudden squall that produced 58August 8, 2006 - Representatives from five environmental organizations, ForestEthics, Friends of Clayoquot Sound, Greenpeace, Western Canada Wilderness Committee, the Sierra Club of Canada, BC Chapter and five Central Region First Nations Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Ucluelet, and Toquaht met yesterday in Clayoquot Sound to discuss their existing Memorandum of Understanding and the controversy in Clayoquot Sound. The parties agreed to pursue the full consultation and accommodation of aboriginal title and rights of the Central Region First Nations and ensure ecological and cultural integrity of Clayoquot Sound. The Central Region Chiefs and the environmental groups are calling upon the Provincial and Federal Governments to identify resources and infrastructure to create economic alternatives for

Clayoquot Sound and enable legal mechanisms to ensure a lasting solution. “We will accept nothing less than legislation that gives our Hawiih decision-making power over our territory and we are pleased to be working together with the environmental community to give expression to our shared values.” said Chief Councillor Joe Tom. This meeting was convened based on the existing Memorandum of Understanding. In the meeting the parties agreed to reestablish and re-invigorate a working group that will: · Strengthen and renew the existing agreement between the environmental groups, the Central Region Chiefs and Iisaak Forest Resources to advance economic and Continued on page 3

Community profile: Vicky Charles ......................... Page 2 First Nations vow to protect Clayoquot ................ Page 4 NAIG medal winners welcomed home ................. Page 7 Choo Kwa Challenge ...............................................Page 10 Nuu-chah-nulth flag stolen .................................... Page 12 NEDC Business News ............................................ Page 20

Tribal Canoe Journey, and who could have known it would be his last. Jack was paddling a canoe along with five others when it capsized after being hit by a two-and-a-half meter wave, plunging them into the murky 12-degree Celsius salt waters of Juan De Fuca Straight said Clallum County UnderSheriff Rich Sill. Five of the paddlers survived but Jack was pronounced dead at the scene. “Mr Jack died as a result of salt water drowning,” said Deb Kelly, Clallum County Coroner in the autopsy results. “Jerry’s loss is devastating to his family and to the peoples of MowachahtMuchalaht,” said Michelle Corfield, NTC Vice President. “This is a great loss to all Nuu-chah-nulth as well, we all feel it.” The six-person crew was paddling from Port Angeles toward Jamestown Beach where they were to rendezvous with

kilometer an hour winds and large swells, one of which capsized Jack’s canoe. The accident occurred around 5 p.m. “At 5:20 p.m. we received a call from a concerned citizen about an overturned craft in the water with people clinging to it,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer Shawn Eggert. A coast guard HH-65C helicopter and 41 foot response boat were dispatched to the accident from the Coast Guard Group/Air Station in Port Angeles. Clallum County sheriff’s deputies also responded to the call for help. “Deputies arrived on the scene and observed a tribal canoe turned onto its side with four people clinging to it and two floating nearby in the water,” said a sheriff’s office press release. Deputy Mike Dick prepared a staging/triage area with the assistance of a park ranger Continued on page 4

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ISSN 0715-4143


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Ha-Shilth-Sa August 10, 2006 by Hashilthsa - Issuu