SOOKE
NEWS MIRROR
2010 WINNER
VISUAL FEAST
The Sooke Community Arts Council holds a show. Page B1
Page A8
Entertainment
Page B1
Sports/stats
Wednesday, JANUARY 9, 2013
GOLDEN GIRLS
Editorial
The Sooke Bantam Girls brought home gold from at Oceanside tourney.
Page A21 Agreement #40110541
Page 21
Your community, your classifieds P18 • 75¢
Dan Ross photo
2013 dunk in the drink Scores of brave souls took the plunge at the annual Polar Bear Swim at Whiffin Spit, sponsored and organized by the Otter Point Volunteer Fire Department. The annual tradition meant a quick dip and then out to a warming fire on shore. Needless to say, no one stayed too long in the water.
First Nation bands offered Jordan River lands Pirjo Raits Sooke News Mirror
The lands that sit beyond Diversion Dam and Bear Creek are the traditional hunting grounds for the T’Sou-ke First Nation. They are an important part of the identity of and history of the T’Sou-ke people as well as the Pacheedaht. Now it appears the two bands will be able to purchase those lands which once held First Nations’ villages. On Dec. 21, the Capital Regional District announced the acquisition of the final parcels of park land from Western Forest Products. The 57 hectares in Jordan River is valued at $4.5 mil-
lion. The Jordan River Regional Park Reserve was established in 2010 when the CRD acquired approximately 180 hectares of Jordan River land from the forestry company. Lands north of Highway 14/West Coast Rd. have been deemed surplus to regional park needs and will be offered for sale to the Pacheedaht and the T’Sou-ke First Nations. They are the lands defined as JR2 and JR3 and include the old Jordan River town site. Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Director, Mike Hicks is pleased with the decision. “I’m very pleased that this is actually going to happen,” said Hicks. “I’m hoping the government is going to get
Pirjo Raits photo
Jordan River looking towards Sandcut Beach. involved.” Hicks would like to see the land protected as a regional park.
“The surplus lands will be held for sale to the Pacheedaht and T’Sou-ke First Nations until Dec. 31,
2014. If First Nations do not acquire those surplus lands the CRD will consider other options.” The land below the highway from the Jordan River to Sandcut Beach will remain as park. Chief Gordon Planes of the T’sou-ke First Nation said they are ‘Thunsanup’ or Northern Straits people and they have long followed the salmon route and are on the northern edge of Coast Salish territory. The land around Jordan River was inhabited by both the T’Sou-ke and the Pacheedaht bands who both fished for halibut and salmon in the waters and hunted on the lands. “We are the Northern
New Year Quiz….
After 12 months of renting what do YOU have ? …...12 cancelled cheques…...
What Does Your Landlord Have ?.... 298 properƟes were purchased in Sooke in 2012. Find out how easy it is to Kiss Your Landlord Goodbye! Foreclosures, Estate Sales, Court Ordered Sales I specialize in these homes. Call me 1st for best selecƟon or email me at ShellyDavis@shaw.ca
Shelly Davis
www.ShellyDavis.ca
250.642.6361
Straits people and our language followed the salmon route,” said Planes. “This is a significant part of our history and culture and we want to find land for people. The community will decide what to do. The hills were important for hunting and Sooke Lake was the heart of our traditional territory.” In 2010, the CRD and Western Forest Products announced the agreement to transfer 2,350 hectares of park and watershed lands in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area for $18.8 million paid over three years. The majority of payment went through the CRD Regional Parks Land Acquisition Fund. The provincial government pro-
Continued on page 3