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Liberals nominate Don Johnston
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FILM IT FORWARD
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June 3 2015
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BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN 1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA Offices in Panorama, Invermere & Fairmont
gets funding to 9 COTR retrain mill workers
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Calgary-based filmmaker Justin Thurn compiles footage about the Fly It Forward initiative to reduce the carbon footprint on a local and provincial level by supporting the Groundswell Network. See story on page 10.
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Ktunaxa lawsuit appeal against Jumbo heard in court KEVIN NIMMOCK kevin@invermerevalleyecho.com The Ktunaxa Nation’s appeal of the result of last year’s dismissal of its judicial review case against the Jumbo Glacier Resort Development was heard in court late last week. Lawyers representing the Ktunaxa Nation Council appeared at the B.C. Court of Appeals in Vancouver on May 29 to present their case. “I am not sure how our appeal will unfold but I am hopeful that our legal counsel’s arguments will be sufficiently compelling to the three Justices to agree that the original decision should be reviewed,” council chair Kathryn Teneese said. During the judicial review, the Ktunaxa Nation argued that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects their religious freedoms, which would be infringed by the planned Jumbo re-
sort. However, the April 2014 review source of guidance, strength, protection concluded that building a large ski re- and spirituality for the Ktunaxa. sort in an area considered sacred by The council’s religious and spiritual arthe Ktunaxa Nation would not interfere gument hinges on the fact that the Ktuwith current Ktunaxa spiritual beliefs naxa Nation has never extinguished Aband practices. original Title within their territory. This “The basis of our argument to the B.C. means that the government has a legal Court of Appeals is that the Minister, in obligation to accommodate for impacts making his original upon Ktunaxa interests decision, did not fulI am not sure how when considering a ly consider the improject in Ktunaxa terour appeal will pacts of the developritory. Thus, the provinment as it relates to unfold but I am hopeful. cial government must KATHRYN TENEESE successfully argue that the Ktunaxa spiritual KTUNAXA FIRST NATION CHAIR connection to the the resort will not imlocation,” Teneese pact important Ktunaxa said. interests, or that special attention will Jumbo Glacier Resort is located on an be given to protecting those interests. area known to the Ktunaxa as Qat’muk. The Ktunaxa Council has been fighting According to the Ktunaxa Nation, the provincial government’s plans for Qat’muk is the place where the Grizzly Jumbo since 2004, when environmenBear Spirit was born, goes to heal itself tal impact assessments were first comand returns to the spirit world. The Griz- pleted. The conflict ramped up in 2010, zly Bear Spirit is seen as an important when 50 members of the Ktunaxa Na-
tion travelled to Victoria to present the Qat’muk Declaration. The declaration called for the provincial government to reject plans for the resort. If the development continues, Jumbo Glacier Resort will be the only year round ski resort in North America, providing lift-service to four nearby glaciers at an elevation of up to 3,419 metres. The project has an estimated cost of $450 million in new construction and infrastructure into the remote area. The resort plans include two hotels, 1,360 residential units, 23 lifts and a village centre with retail stores. Developers have argued that the resort would provide many stable jobs in the construction industry. In addition, the resort would allow tourists to experience views only seen before via helicopter. According to Teneese, it will be three to six months before a decision on the appeal is made.
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