Haida Gwaii Observer, January 22, 2016

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Enbridge Ferry talksruling

Masset library’s home QCS lands villagenew contract page page

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Skidegate’s 15 minutes Football plea

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Tsunami cleanup Whooping cough funding

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Friday, May22, 1, 2015 Friday, January 2016

TimberWest to Earthquake rattles beds Moresby but fails to defer startleplans nerves logging By Stacey Marple By Andrew Hudson Haida Haida Gwaii Gwaii Observer Observer

The early morning of Friday April TimberWest Forest Corporation will24, defer Haida Gwaii was hit by an Earthquake of 6.1 logging a forest area beside Mount Moresby magnitude. No tsunami warnings were issued Adventure Camp. after the earthquake. The epicentre of the Domenico Iannidinardo, chief forester and quake was approximately 167atkm south of the vice president of sustainability TimberWest, Village of Queen Charlotte. said on Monday that he was surprised when the Some residents of Haida Gwaiilast reported camp society opposed the logging week, objects shaking and windows rattling, but no given that the land serious damage or injuries were reported. has long been part of the islands of Haida Gwaii all have theAsworking forest, unique geological and because the qualities, the effects of an earthquake canalready vary from island to island. company had Every community agreed not to cut a reported feeling the quake in different ways. Queen Charlotte Village which large portion closest has a rock base didn’t feel the quake as much to the camp. as “There the residents of the northern parts of Graham is obviously island. Tlell and north is mostly a sand based something more we area and feels almost need to understand,” every quake that happens. - Greig Bethel Shirley Wilson of Skidegate reported said Iannidinardo, feeling the earthquake. “I was sitting in my adding that the probed when I heard the house creak.” After vincial government is the initial creak she felt her bed start rocking now looking for an alternative area. and noticed ornaments rocking. “The The Mounther Moresby Adventure Camp Society ornaments rocked for a while after the voiced its concern last week that a cuttingquake permit stopped,” Ms. Wilson told at theany Observer. “My could be issued for the area time, though son and brother who were also in the house a spokesperson for the Ministry of Forests, didn’t earthquake at Operations all.” Lands,feel and the Natural Resource told the Barry Pages of Masset, director of the Observer a decision was not imminent. Skeena-Queen Regional District By press timeCharlotte Monday, an online petition said he felt the quake but because it was fairly to save the camp’s “outdoor classroom” had short he wasn’t too concerned. he received over 700 signatures, andHowever, support from added, “This is a reminder to every one to be the Council of the Haida Nation. prepared.” Toby Sanmiya, the society’s executive direcare 1,300 nothing newGwaii to Haida tor,Earthquakes says more than Haida students Gwaii. The quake comes just weeks after a have stayed at the camp in the last 10 years, study identi Haida Gwaii as walks ground zero and many willedremember guided along for the next major seismic event on the west trails that criss-cross the area where logging is coast. proposed. The camp also hosts activities along a This recent earthquake doesn’t qualify as nearby salmon-bearing creek. theCamp big one scientists predict, astoit find wasasmaller instructors know where whole than even some of the aftershocks the 7.7 series of natural features in the area, after Sanmiya magnitude in 2012. added, fromearthquake bear dens and scratch marks to The same weekend that Gwaiishelters got monumental cedars and oldHaida wilderness hit by this 6.1 tremor, Nepal was devastated made by students years ago. It is where the camp by 7.8 magnitude event.programs. runsa nearly all its in-forest Earthquakes between a 6.0 and a 6.9 are SeeRichter CAMPscale. on Page 3 considered a strong on the

“A decision on the cutting permit is not imminent.”

Andrew Hudson photo

Tayler Adams uncoils a fiber-optic cable along Tow Hill Road Jan. 14 while Dean Mallet buries one of the ‘coffins’ that technicians will use as a kind of manhole to access the new line. Crews from DSG Communications started installing the cable from Masset to Tow Hill on Jan. 11, the first stretch in a $10 million, GwaiiTel-led project that will see a new fiberoptic mainline connect all Haida Gwaii communities from Masset to Queen Charlotte. The new network is expected to start carrying internet and digital TV signals by May. “Coming from the big city, it’s a nice change,” said Mallet, a machine Submitted photo operator from Vancouver who will be working on the project for several months. “The energy feels good here,” he said.

Committee members of the Pulling Together Haida Gwaii Event demonstrate their teamwork abilities at the carving shed in the Kay Centre. The group will be holding a fund raiser May 2. See full story on Page 3

Searchunderway and rescue suspended after Day 3 Talks on oil tanker ban By Quinn Shannon Lough By Bender Haida Gwaii Observer The new Minister of Transport Marc Garneau conducted consultations on The search for Kumdis Ilsand resithe North Coast of British Columbia dent, Brent Hendren, was suspended Jan.weekend 14 as part of his one mandate to last following of Haida formalize a moratorium on crude-oil Gwaii’s largest search and rescue tankers in the area. than 25 years. operations in more Garneau made a stop Prince “I know for a fact that in if he was Rupert asthere part of nation wide tour alive out wehis would have found and met with a no variety of stakeholders him. There’s chance we would on themissed issue. him. The community have “I’m here consulting because this should know we did everything we will affect the lives of people living on possibly could to find him,” said the North Coast of British Columbia Chris Ashurst, SAR manager with and it’s important that their voicesand be Archipelago Ground Search heard. Yes, beenunit mandated put Rescue andI’ve deputy leadertowith

Prince Rupert’s

important “I“It’s know for a fact [North that if Coast] he was voices alive be heard.” out there we would have found- Marc him.” Garneau - Chris Ashurst

into place, formally, a moratorium on the shipment of crude-oil here on the North Coast. In order to do that I need Massett to talk toMarine people Rescue. who represent differHendren,groups. 27, was last seen entMr. stakeholder Some of them rowing to his Kumdis are fromout the shipping industry,Island some cabin with supplies Sunday of themrental are environmentalists and of

course first and ourdinner First morning, April 18.foremost He missed Nations whofriends are the later coastal people of plans with that night. this part of the country,” he said. The following Tuesday Masset A moratorium crude-oilpersons tankers RCMP received on a missing has been debated before. In 2010, report, which led to the discovery Liberal MP Joyce Murray introduced Mr. Hendren’s boat abandoned and a private member’s bill to legislate overturned south of Watun Rivera tankerPure ban Lake on theProvincial coast. Bulkley Valley near Park. MP Cullen also that advocates “It Nathan is strongly believed Brent for a tanker banhisand in 2014 he put drowned when rowboat capsized forward a privateIsland,” member’s bill, the west of Kumdis Mr. Ashurst Act to“This Defend the Pacific Northwest, said. is based on information to prohibit oil the tankers in the Dixon from witnesses, location of the capEntrance, Hecate Strait and Queen sized vessel, and the distribution of his Charlotteeffects Sound.along The bill defeated personal thewas shoreline. in April 2015. See SEARCHon on Page Page 2 2 See MORATORIUM

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