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Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Volume 95 - No. 01
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www.ldnews.net
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$1.30 GST inc.
BURNS LAKE
LAKES DISTRICT NEWS
Polar bear dip
BurnsLake’s residential property valuesdown
Francois Lake residents started the year feeling refreshed with their annual polar dip in the freezing lake. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Residential property owners in Burns Lake can expect to see a 0.73 per cent decrease in their property value assessments this year from BC Assessment.
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Coping with mental health For children and teenagers in B.C., coping well with the demands of school work, busy schedules and social relationships in today’s chaotic world reflects resilient mental health.
Hereditary chiefs unhappy with Wet’suwet’en’s pipeline agreement “We have not been consulted, at all,” says hereditary head chief FLAVIO NIENOW In December 2014, the Wet’suwet’en First Nation signed an agreement with the province for the proposed Coastal GasLink pipe-
line project. With approximately 240 members, the Wet’suwet’en First Nation will receive approximately $2.8 million from the province out of the agreement. However, not everyone is happy about this decision, nor with the way the decision was made. “All hereditary chiefs are opposed to this [pipeline agreement],” said Jeff Brown, Hereditary Chief of the Gitdumden Clan of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation. According to Brown, the decision to sign the pipeline agreement was made entirely through
Wet’suwet’en’s elected officials, and did not include any consultations with community members nor with the hereditary chiefs. “We have never been consulted, at all” he said. “We would’ve liked to be on the planning stage of each development, and without that, there won’t be any approval of the hereditary chiefs.” The hereditary chiefs are not the only ones unhappy with Wet’suwet’en’s pipeline agreement. According to Carla Lewis, a member of the Gitdumden Clan of the
Do you like fixing machines?
Wet’suwet’en First Nation and a registered band member of Wet’suwet’en First Nation, many band members, especially off-reserve, heard about the pipeline agreement for the first time through a press release. “There was considerable shock and outrage expressed in social media as people heard the news,” she said. In the story ‘Early pipeline warnings’ published in the Lakes District News’ Feb. 20, 2013, Chief Ogen said she was planning on holding consultations with community mem...see PIPELINE ▼ P2
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Year in review Lakes District News selected the top stories of 2014 for your enjoyment. Take a look at what was making the headlines in 2014, as well as Burns Lake’s most memorable moments and major events.
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Do you want steady employment and good wages? Then Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)/Machinist Foundation is the program for you. February 16 to July 17. Sign up now. There are not many seats left.
Some funding is available
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