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Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Volume 93 - No. 19
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www.ldnews.net
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$1.30 GST inc.
BURNS LAKE
LAKES DISTRICT NEWS
Mine faces protest
B.C. resource sectors growing fast
Burns Lake area Wet’suwet’en First Nation cannot abide lack of reciprocity
Although gas and oil pipelines debates dominate the news with headline-grabbing radical rhetoric, they are a fraction of the total resource development planned for Northern B.C.
WALTER STRONG On May 1, 2013, the Wet’suwet’en First Nation issued a stop-work order against Huckleberry Mines Ltd. and their open-pit copper/molybdenum mine. The Wet’suwet’en First Nation (formerly Broman Lake Indian Band) is located just west of Burns Lake The Huckleberry Mine, located 123 kms southwest of Houston B.C., is on traditional Wet’suwet’en territories. Hydro-power lines to service the project, as well as industrial use roads, run through a Wet’suwet’en reserve. “We have a clear mandate from our membership to stop this project until our concerns are addressed,” Ogen said. “We have been in negotiations for more than a year and Huckleberry Mines does not wish to conclude agreements that fairly and reasonably address Wet’suwet’en asserted aboriginal rights, title, community interests and concerns.” Primary among those concerns are employment, training and economic benefits. While 70 new jobs were created in the recent mine expansion, Ogen said that based on records kept by their education and training officer, not one of those jobs is from their band membership. Currently, not one member of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation works at Huckleberry Mines. Chief Ogen recognizes that the company works with other First Nations in the area, but she points out that their relationship with the Wet’suwet’en is unique. “We have a road that runs through our reserve - Felix George Indian Re...see MINE PROTEST ▼ P3
Story on page 5
Community gazebo built During the past year, the Burns Lake Band has been constructing a community Gazebo on the lake front for community members.
Story on page 9
LDSS girls travelling soccer team The Lakes District Secondary School (LDSS) girls’ soccer team travelled to Merritt from April 18 to April 21 to compete in their first tournament of the season.
While you were sleeping
Night time work began for the Burns Lake downtown revitalization
Back to work Safety Certification.
Story on page 14
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) ......................................................................May 16 WHMIS ...................................................................May 16 Fire Suppression Recertification .................... June 3 or 6 S100 Basic Fire Suppression.................................June 4
Check web for First Aid Dates
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