Run Date: May 9, 2014 Duncan Newsleader (3" x 3") Full Colour EOR#6433
Up front: As feared, Beaver sinks to bottom of Cowichan Bay page 3 News: Grad ceremonies seem safe from teachers job action page 11
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Friday, May 9, 2014
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Spot prawn fishery opens without any signs of blockade
No payment, no interest plans available OAC - See store for details
Echo Heights shifts to 91 percent park
North Cowichan: switches plan Peter W. Rusland
Salish Sea: Commercial harvest peacefully underway despite Stz’uminus declaration
Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
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threatened First Nations’ blockade of Salish Sea has yet to materialize — much to the relief of Cowichan spot prawn fishermen. The commercial spot prawn season opened at noon yesterday in local waters under the shadow of last week’s Stz’uminus First Nation announcement that it was banning all boat traffic in its traditional waters. Police cruised the area as fishing began, but with no sign of any action being taken to enforce the declaration, local fisherman Lance Underwood was cautiously optimistic the ‘sea bugs’ would be available for harvest during a prawning season expected to last about six weeks. “I have a feeling there might be a lot of resistance to us entering the (prawning) area,” Underwood said of Stz’uminus’ potential blockade of its core territories in waters between Dodds and Sansum Narrows. Stz’uminus agents were unavailable for comment at press time. But there have been no reports of any action taken in the wake of the band’s May 2 announcement. If the blockade occurs, Underwood — who basically makes his living from prawn-
ing — said he and other fishing crews will respect Native wishes, stay out, and observe. “We’re going to remain calm and take pictures, and video,” he told the News Leader Pictorial Thursday morning. “We’re trying to take the high road on this. We’re hoping this fizzles out — this is one of the most productive prawn grounds on the coast.” It’s also where the Stz’uminus, and other people, have harvested food fish for generations — a right Chief John Elliott apparently believes is threatened by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. “Stz’uminus First Nation has endured DFO’s frustrating oversight of the fisheries in the Salish Sea for decades,” his May 2 statement reads. “The DFO has repeatedly failed to follow proper Aboriginal Consultation and Accommodation laws, and continues to enact policy reflecting this failure. “Ongoing mismanagement of the fisheries, leave us no choice: our community must take action.” Elliott explains he understands a blockade would affect commercial fishing crews. “Our fight is with the DFO alone, and our hope is to compel them to follow Canadian law when enacting new policy, and change their existing policies surrounding Aboriginal access.” more page 6
News Leader Pictorial
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Peter W. Rusland
Kayla Carlson (left) and Rachel Bocking display a candy- and cola-fueled volcano eruption during Chemainus High’s May 1 schoolwide Student Learning Showcase of art, drama, music, and other inventive skills tapping pupils’ interests. See story, page seven.
Join us for our Grand Opening
Tomorrow, May 10th 10am-3pm 3055 Oak Street, Chemainus
• Face painting • Make Mothers Day Baskets • Daisy the Cow will be attending • Music by Steven Lavigne and his band • Local Artisans and their displays • Refreshments from the 49th Parallel Grocery Store • Merchant Draws
ost of Echo Heights forest is now poised to become parkland after council gave first reading to a controversial 11th-hour proposal by North Cowichan’s mayor. The narrow 4-3 vote accepted Jon Lefebure’s plan to set aside 91% of the forest, and sell 17 lots — worth about $150,000 each — comprising the rest of the 52-acre public property, the mayor explained. Councillors John Koury, Al Siebring, and Jennifer Woike opposed Lefebure’s proposal that scrubbed council’s earlier two readings toward saving just 80% of Echo Heights as parkland, and marketing 40-some housing lots. Lefebure acknowledged his 91% solution will see council reap about $2 million for public programs — some $1.5 million less than selling 40 lots under the scratched 80% plan. Still, he was delighted how his community came together under his 91% plan to help end an eightyear controversy rooted in saving the forest. “It was amazing how the Cowichan Residents’ Association, and a lot of other people, emailed and spoke in support of the new proposal.” more on page 3