SOOKE NEWS MIRROR -- Wednesday, Wednesday, July July 17, 17, 2013 2013
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NEWS • 5
Eviction notices served to residents Cont’d from page 1
Sharon Cooper maintains that in spite of its years in existence, the campground was never intended to be a permanent residence. “This Cheanuh Marina has always been a campsite, and has never been a place where anyone is supposed to live. And at this time, there are people that actually do, we are aware of people that do live here. So we will be looking to clean up ‘stuff’ that people will probably be leaving behind.” This includes buildings that range from sundecks and small shacks to “quite large buildings,” acknowledged Cooper. These buildings, she said, have never been approved and they need to be removed. “The extensive developments have never been approved and people have always known that they are staying in a campsite. And anyone who goes to a campsite brings in a trailer, and can hook up their trailer and leave within a day.” Residents offer a different view, saying that the more “permanent” structures on the campground had been bought and sold, with both the band’s knowledge and consent. After a tour of their house, Rene offered to show a house that had been sold “about a month ago,” according to Gail. An expired ad on Used Victoria, posted on April 28, 2013, shows a “Cute rancher” at 914-4901 East Sooke Road for sale, for $89,900, complete with an oil-fired
water heater, forced air furnace, a back up generator, and fully serviced hydro with metre. “I’ll show you where that lady bought this house for $80,000,” offered Rene, driving to lot 914. To which Gail adds, “And they (the band) let her (Angela Whylie) buy it!” When asked about a recent sale of a structure on the campground, Chief Chipps and his sister Sharon Cooper both responded with shock and amazement. “Wow ... that’s awesome, can you find out who it was so we can get some of that?” said Cooper. “We’ve never negotiated it ourselves, per say,” Chief Chipps confirmed. “We’d really like to get some of that share, if that’s actually what supposed to come to us. I’d appreciate that, we need it, for our people,” continued Cooper. The Sooke News Mirror did receive documentation of a sale in 2010 of unit 4-14 for $25,000, for all “as-is” structures and appliances. The vote for the Beecher Bay Land Code Amendment took place on July 10. Of 179 eligible names, 90 band members turned out to vote. Seventy voted in favour of amending the Land Code, and 25 — including former Chief Burt Charles — voted against it. The amendment passed. On July 11 the notices went out. Residents of the campground have 30 days to vacate. “As of August 12th, 2013,” reads the Notice
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to Vacate, “any items left on the property will be deemed to be the property of Beecher Bay First Nation.” “July 10th we had a Lands Management Ratification vote,” said Chief Chipps. “And it’s to move forward on a development that we are building right now with … (Trust for Sustainable Development). In order to meet the targets that we’re shooting for, we have to put out our eviction notices, yesterday.” TSD is a “trust for sustainable land development” as per their website, tsd.ca. It is headed up by David Butterfield, who has also been involved in other local projects like the re-development of Shoal Point in Victoria. “As soon as the deadline comes, we’re going to start preparing the land for our future developments, our potential future developments that are happening,” said Sharon Cooper. “So once the deadline comes, we’re going to have to do a bit of clean up that’s going on, and that’s going to take some time.” The notice also indicates that a relocation coordinator is available, as is a storage location for items that cannot be moved within the allowable time. When asked about what they hoped to accomplish with a new development, Chief Chipps emphasized the need for future development that will, in the long term, benefit the band. “We want to grow. And the campsite we have right now, the way
it exists, is not going to allow us to grow. It’s not going to give us a sustainable future for our children. We need to make sure that they’re covered.” Chipps Two band members supporting the development, Junior Chipps and Louise Charles, reinforced the chief’s perspective. “It’s not like it’s a surprise,” said Junior, “everybody knew about it.” Junior reiterated the temporary nature of the campsite and that it was never meant for permanent residence. “There’s no sewage, just a silly little hose running around for water for everybody.” Over and over again, the residents stated that the problem isn’t so much that they are being asked to leave; it’s about the 30-day timeline. The senior couple, Rene and Gail Patenaude, said as much. Ideally, said Gail, they would like to get the timeline extended. “We know we have to go,” Gail said, “but we can’t find a place in 30 days” They can’t sell the house to the reserve. “They said, they’re just going to take it over,” said Gail. At the press conference on July 12, a CFAX reporter said to the Chief that the campers were asking for more time. Chipps responded, “I don’t know if you understand how hard this is to do to people I consider friends, and do I want to do it over and over again? No. No, I feel the pain for doing it right now is too much.”
The reporter then rephrased the question, stating that a one-time notice giving the campers, say, three months, Chipps responded, “I wish it was my choice, but if you turn around and look on the wall there, there is a vote and the choice has been taken from me. We’ve been mandated to carry on with our development.” When pressed that the vote did not reflect the amount of time given, Chipps responded, “We have targets.” When asked if a contract had been signed with the developer, Chief Chipps admitted, “No, we don’t have a definitive agreement.” “Our long-term vision it to get sustainable development in order for our children to live and grow, when Treaty comes around, if we do and when we do sign the treaty, that we’re prepared. We notice that a lot of treaties seem to be more valued if there is economic development on the community,” said Chipps. The intention is to enter into a partnership with the developer (TSD, with David Butterfield) that is owned 51 per cent by Beecher Bay. The duration of the contract, and the number of proposed units have not yet been definitively determined yet. A separate vote will take place on the actual development plan, which has yet to be drafted.
NEWS • 5
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