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Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Volume 92 - No. 25
Downtown revitalization request falls on deaf council ears. p3
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www.ldnews.net
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$1.34 HST inc.
College of New Caledonia students 2012 graduation ceremony. p8
Cold water release plans surging ahead Cheslatta Carrier Nation looking for funding partners REBECCA BILLARD
BEAT THE HEAT Local girls proudly display the trophy won in a friendly game of pool against members of the Burns Lake RCMP. The RCMP visited Lake Babine Nation's K'ay Skak Beyikh youth centre last week for the inaugural ‘Beat the Heat’ competition. The friendly competition involves local RCMP against local youth in a range of activities. After more than two hours of playing pool, it came down to one final game and in the end, the youth were victorious. There is already plans for another competition against RCMP later this summer. Submitted photo
Mayor and council divided over Enbridge
REBECCA BILLARD A motion to oppose the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline was defeated last week, with council divided in their opinions on the issue. The motion was made by Coun. Susan Schienbein and was seconded by Coun. Quentin Beach, following the second committee of the whole meeting held to discuss the proposed pipeline. The first committee of the whole meeting was held by council on Nov. 8, 2011. The public were also given an opportunity to weigh in on the issue and delegations were allowed five minutes to speak. All six local area First Nations were invited as delegations, however only Lake Babine Nation, the Office of the Wet'su
Cheslatta Carrier Nation has not given up on their push for a cold water release facility to be constructed at the Kenney Dam. During the recent 'Returning of the Spirits' ceremony, held at Scatchola Village burial grounds on the shores of Cheslatta Lake, Cheslatta Carrier Nation's policy advisor Mike
wet'en and Wet'su wet'en First Nation attended the meeting. Office of the Wet'su wet'en Hereditary Chief Madeek [Jeff Brown] and Mike Ridsdale spoke out against the pipeline. Chief Madeek said, "We are not opposed to economic development in our territory that leaves a minimal footprint. We oppose this project because of its volatile nature. If a pipe bursts it will be a heck of a clean up." Ridsdale spoke about the recent Plains Midstream Canada oil spill in the Red Deer River in Alberta. He said that it is estimated that 475,000 litres of oil spilled into the river. "All the fish in those waters are going to die," Ridsdale said, adding that the same techniques being used to clean up the
Robertson announced that they are now taking things into their own hands to solve the decades long issue. He said the province had promised that a release facility would be built for more than 35 years. "They lied to us. We got government conformation in January 2012 that the province no longer has an appetite to invest in the facility so we have formed a partnership and we plan to do it ourselves." He said they also plan to build a hydro electric generating station to help with financing the project and to create additional economic and social benefits, such as a legacy fund. He said Chelslatta Carrier Nation is aiming More on page 5 ...
Plains Midstream Canada oil spill were also used to clean up the Exxon Valdez spill. "There is no new technology coming out to clean up oil spills and the equipment used in recovery efforts does significant damage to the environment." Chief Madeek said, "We have 22,000 square kilometres of territory. We have five chiefs and 13 house chiefs that govern this territory. We are the caretakers of this land. It is not ours to sell and it is not ours to give away. It is only ours to pass on to the next generation." Wet'su wet'en First Nation Chief Karen Ogen asked for council's support in opposing the proposed pipeline. "We are a member of the Yinka Dene Alliance [along with Nadleh Whut'en, More on page 7 ...
At CNC Lakes you win in many ways! Maurice Charlie registered and paid for an H2s Alive course, at the Lakes Campus and won a gift certi¿cate to Dragon Palace. Thanks to Dragon Palace and other participating restaurants, you can read about great college courses on tablecards from Granisle to Takysie Lake.
CNC is open over the summer!
Phone: 250.692.1700 • Fax: 250.692.1750 • Toll Free: 1.866.692.1943 545 Highway 16 West • PO Box 5000, Burns Lake, BC • V0J 1E0 Email: lksdist@cnc.bc.ca • Website: www.cnc.bc.ca/lakesdistrict