Inside
u Grow op bust P. 2 u Tears for Justice P. 2
u Melon bras P. 6 u Smear campaign P. 4
Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
WEDNESDAY, September 18, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS Mt. Sid optioned The Mount Sidney Williams mineral property have been optioned to Alita Resources Ltd. The property consists of mineral claims which cover 1,400 hectares and is located 95 km northwest of Fort St. James in the Omineca Mining Division. To exercise the option Alita Resources will have to expend $1.45 million over the next five years.
Fort St. James court report For files appearing before the Fort St. James Provincial Court on Tuesday, September 10, 2013. Linda M. Basil was sentenced to one day in jail each for two counts of breach of recognizance. Phillip A. Charlie was charged a $500 surety to keep the peace and given conditions for one year. Joseph R. Prince was fined $1,000 and prohibited from driving for one year for operating a motor vehicle while impaired.
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VOL. 36 NO. 29 $1.30 inc. GST
Blockade comes down - for now
Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier
$560,000 a day during the blockade. CILA had gone to court on Friday to get an injunction against the A blockade of some forest protestors, which was granted the service roads in Tl’azt’en Nation same day, but just after the blockade territory was down on Friday after was taken down voluntarily. a week of action by some keyoh“We’re happy the roadblock is holders in the area. down and we are fully expecting A group of keyoh holders were business as usual starting Monday,” blockading the Leo Creek Forest she said. “It if does go back up next Service Road and temporarily the week we will be enforcing the inTanizul Forest Service Road as junction.” well over their frustration with the She said they would apply to management of the resources in expand the injunction if roadblocks their keyoh. were put up on other area roads as The group agreed to bring well. down the blockade pending fur“The province is aware of the ther discussions with the Ministry concerns of Dzit’lain’li Community of Forests, Lands and Natural ReKeyoh holders of Tl’azt’en Nation source Management and others. regarding resource activity in their Meetings have been set up for traditional territory,” said Brennan later this month. Clarke, ministry spokesperson in an Keyohs are areas of land man- (L-R) Matthew Monk, Dennis Joseph and Charlie Joseph were part of the group block- email statement. “These issues have aged by hereditary inheritance, a ading the Leo Creek Forest Service Road. been the subject of ongoing discusRuth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier sions over the summer between the system of the Carrier peoples of “I’m always saying to industry, if you Injunction granted the area predating contact with EuTl’azt’en chief and band council, The blockade of the Leo Creek Road the keyoh holders, the Ministry of Forests ropeans. An area is handed down through take away from our resources, there has to was impacting some logging and mining Lands and Natural Resource Operations a family for food gathering through hunt- be compensation.” He said money or restocking of the reexploration work in the area, hunters were and the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and ing, trapping, fishing and berry-picking. “We don’t want industry to destroy sources and fixing the salmon spawning turned back, and the workers staying at the Reconciliation.” Leo Creek logging camp had to be rediwhat we have left,” said Charlie Joseph, beds are all options. “The province’s efforts to engage the “I remember as a kid going up the rected to the Stuart Lake Logging Camp. one of the keyoh-holders of the Nesanye Tl’azt’en Nation in discussions and resolve Tache River … you could look up the MaryAnne Arcand of the Central In- concerns over resource extraction in their keyoh in the area. “There’s too much hunting. Our way river and all you could see were the backs terior Logging Association (CILA) said traditional territory are continuing,” said of life is being infringed on,” said Alex Jo- of salmon,” said Charlie Joseph, who the blockade was impacting logging con- Clarke seph, another member of the keyoh-hold- blames logging-related siltation in the tractors, and as many as seven contractors Tl’azt’en Nation did not immediately salmon beds for the depletion of the fish- were losing an estimated combined total of respond to interview requests. er group and a resident of Middle River. The roadblock, set up at the 2 km ery in the area. The group at the roadblock claimed point on the Leo Creek Road, was being manned by a shifting group of about they had the support of the Tl’azt’en a dozen people through the week. The chief and council, however a member of group was not letting any logging, min- the Tl’azt’en Nation elected council said ing-related, gas pipeline or hunting traffic Tl’azt’en did not sanction the blockade. Fort St. James RCMP are asking Josh Hallman, chair of the Binche through into the area. A blockade on the for the public’s assistance with a missTanizul FSR only lasted part of Thursday Separation Committee, also made the ing person’s case as it marks the six clarification Binche keyoh-holders were morning. year anniversary and the investigation “We just went ahead and did it,” said not involved in the blockade at all. remains open. He said individual keyoh-holders apAlex Joseph. Six years ago Bonnie Marie JoHe said the loggers, Ministry of For- peared to be representing themselves. seph was last seen by her family in the “I’m sure they do have legitimate conests, Lands and Natural Resource OperaVanderhoof area of British Columbia. tions and the RCMP had all been respect- cerns,” he said. “But they don’t have the Joseph was known to be very indeing the blockade. “Which we appreciate.” mandates from all the keyoh holders to pendent and traveled frequently from The sign at the junction of the Tachie blockade.” her home town of Fort St. James to the Other keyoh-holders from the region Road and the Leo Creek Forest Service Vanderhoof and Prince George areas Road had been defaced with derogatory were also at the blockade in support of of B.C. comments, however. Someone had spray- the action, and said they were considering She was last seen by family in Seppainted “Hey, got two bucks” and another blockading their keyoh areas to support tember of 2007 and reported missing Bonnie Marie Joseph, known as what is being done at the Leo Creek Forhad spray-painted “No Indians.” in December after friends and family “Bonnie M”, at the time of her disapThe blockaders’ demands were not est Service Road. had not heard from her. pearance was described as: Terry West of the Northwest arm specific, but Charlie Joseph said while “The RCMP continue to search • 31 years old keyoh said he was going to sit down with compensation for some of the resource for answers into the disappearance • 5’4” tall extraction and exploration has been going his family and see about shutting down of Bonnie Joseph,” said Cst. Lesley • 120 lbs to chief and council, his group of keyoh- their area across Takla Lake. Smith, North District media relations • short brown hair The logging in his family’s keyoh holders have not seen any benefits. officer. • brown eyes goes towards Houston he said. “Some sort of agreement must be “We have no leads as to whether If you have any information in Another member of the blockade, made with us keyoh-holders,” he said. Bonnie got a ride with a friend, hitchrelation to the disappearance of Bon“If it’s monetary, let it be monetary. If it’s Ted, who asked not to give his last name, hiked or took a bus to a nearby comnie Marie Joseph please contact the said the defacement of the sign at the Leo some sort of economic venture, we could munity,” she said. “We are hoping Fort St. James RCMP Detachment at Creek Forest Service Road and the Tachie start something along those lines.” someone may recognize her photo (250) 996-8269. If you would like to He suggested opportunities for those Road was disrespectful of the keyohand shed some light on this six-year remain anonymous, please call Crime in the area to again own cattle and have holders. mystery.” Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). “Who does that,” he said. “We’ve had access to forest range opportunities would respect all these years.” be beneficial.
Six years later