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NAKUSP MINOR HOCKEY CELEBRATES
COUNCILLOR TO RUN IN PROVINCIAL ELECTION
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Vol. 90 Issue 16 • Wednesday, April 17, 2013 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25 •
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Ktunaxa treaty including Wensley Bench land contentious for some CLAIRE PARADIS Arrow Lakes News
Across Highway 6 from Box Lake there is a stretch of forest familiar with mountain bikers and hikers who walk the old railway bed. A 242-hectare section twice as long as Box Lake running parallel to the highway is now Ktunaxa land, as of March 27, when the area was signed over to the First Nation by the provincial and federal governments. Not everyone is pleased with the deal. Marilyn James, representative from the Sinixt Nation, said the Sinixt have had a land claim filed since 2008. The incremental treaty has been in the works for years, said Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Ida Chong. “The Ktunaxa-Kinbasket Treaty Council entered the treaty process in December 1993, and is now well-advanced in Stage 4 of the six-stage process,” Chong told the Arrow Lakes News. The council is now negotiating a comprehensive agreement in principle, which will conclude in a final agreement in the future. James said the governments’ claims that they are signing this land to the Ktunaxa fairly and objectively are not accurate.
“Because we’ve been in the courts, we’ve collected evidence and facts, and this is unequivocally Sinixt territory,” she stated. James termed the treaty an “act of genocide” because it depends upon the labelling of the Sinixt as an extinct people. “When you call a people extinct when they’re not, that’s an act of genocide,” she said. “For the Ktunaxa to be doing what they’re doing in our territory is an act of collusion with the government.” She added that for the government to sign the treaty as part of reconciliation made the public a party to the collusion as well. When asked about the Sinixt claim, Minister Chong replied that “the Arrow Lakes Band was removed from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs records in 1953, after it was determined no members remained. “As the claim is still before the Courts, the Province does not consider it appropriate to comment on the specifics of the claim,” she added. When asked why this particular piece of land were included in the treaty, Minister Chong said: “These lands were included in the offer because they address a significant interest of the Ktu-
naxa Nation to increase its participation in the regional economy. “These parcels have significant potential to provide economic development opportunities that will benefit the Ktunaxa Nation, local industries, and local government, and enhance employment opportunities for local residents.” Neither Nakusp mayor nor Box Lake Lumber owner Dan Wiebe had known about the treaty until they heard about it from local media, and both expressed surprise that they had not been notified. Although a request for an interview with a representative from the Ktunaxa Nation was made, there was no response before press time. For her part, James vowed there would be lots of action taken in response, and told the Arrow Lakes News the number of people with the Sinixt is large. “A big community stands in solidarity with us now,” said James, and added that more than half of the questions being asked at Columbia River Treaty meetings are about the Sinixt. “People know and are not fooled by what the government is doing.”
Beach boom
A set of boom logs now protects the Nakusp public beach thanks to a donation from Interfor. Read more in council notes, p. 3. Claire Paradis/Arrow Lakes News
Local man proposes licensed marijuana facility within Nakusp CLAIRE PARADIS Arrow Lakes News
Rodney Potapoff brought his proposal for a medical marijuana dispensary application within Nakusp to the April 8 council meeting. With him, he also brought copies of the 27-page document outlining regulations for licensed grow ops, and it was clear that he had done his research. Changes to the medical marijuana by Health Canada mean the
end to government producers and home growers. Under the new rules, only companies that meet strict security requirements will be eligible to be licensed producers. Mr. Potapoff has been in communication with Health Canada researching the new requirements for his proposed medical marijuana company “Delta Nine” and brought copies of the new guidelines to council. Potapoff told council there is a system of “constant monitoring” by Health Canada. “This time next year [Health community champs
Canada] want us in full-time production, with all security in place,” Potapoff told council, who also said he was considering the old firehall as a potential site for the business. Councillor Ulli Mueller remarked that other councils looking at grow ops in other municipalities have considered placing them in industrial or agricultural areas due to the smell involved in production. Potapoff replied that filters could be used to mitigate the smell. The security checks for every person involved in medical mari-
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juana are rigorous, Potapoff told council, who is currently going through an extensive background check himself. Coun. Guy Duchaine brought up the issue of security, and Potapoff pointed out the security requirements of the production site itself are also very stringent. Potapoff said one of the reasons he would like to have the facility in town so there would be less likelihood of criminal activity and faster response by police. Counc. Mueller asked how many
jobs would the business create for the town, and Potapoff started with a conservative estimate of four, but said the possibilities are much larger. Mueller also mentioned there are already companies running under the new licenses in the Okanagan. In response to Potapoff’s request for a letter of intent from the Village, Mayor Karen Hamling said the council would have to have a report from staff advising council how to move forward if they are interested.
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