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109th Year - Week 10 •
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
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CIHL playoffs MVP Brendan DeVries (left) stands beside captain Ian Smith, holding up the playoffs trophy, and Randall Groot. The Steelheads won the final battle 5-3 against the Williams Lake Stampeders last Saturday. Smith announced he might retire as captain this season, after 12 years. Story, A8. Xuyun Zeng photo
Wet’suwet’en meet to settle differences Bulkley Valley weighs in on PacificNW LNG
By Alicia Bridges
Smithers/Interior News
Hereditary and elected Wet’suwet’en leaders from Burns Lake, Hagwilget and Moricetown gathered to reconcile differences within the Nation at a meeting in Smithers last week. The meeting at Hudson Bay Lodge on Friday and Saturday was attended by chiefs and councillors from the Burns Lake Band, Hagwilget Village Council, Moricetown Band, Wet’suwet’en First Nation band, Nee Tahi Buhn Indian Band, Skin Tyee Nation and the Office of the Wet’suwet’en (OW). The gathering, organized by Wet’suwet’en First Nation Chief Karen Ogen, was the first time leaders from the six bands and the OW had come together for several years. Hereditary Chief Na’Moks, whose English name is John Ridsdale, said the meeting was held to improve communication between groups within the Wet’suwet’en
Nation, which he said had been divided by government conduct. “I believe the way that industry and government have conducted themselves, they put a wedge in between us and now we have to remove that wedge,” he said. Although some Wet’suwet’en leaders have disagreed over deals with industry and government, Na’Moks said this meeting was focused on reconciliation. The program included a series of presentations on case law and landmark rulings on First Nations rights and land title. “It’s a good reminder to everybody that there is case law and communal decision-making,” said Na’Moks. “If at one point industry or government does want to bring us to court, the fact is if we make a decision as an entire nation then there’s absolutely no foot for them to stand on.” Moricetown Band Chief Duane Mitchell believed the meeting was a positive first step towards repairing relationships within the Nation. See LEADERS on A13
Smithers/Interior News
With Friday’s deadline for public comment fast approaching, the business community, politicians and individuals have weighed in on their support or opposition to the Pacific NorthWest LNG project on Lelu Island off Prince Rupert’s coast. The Smithers District Chamber of Commerce sent a letter of support on Feb. 17 to the Canadian Environmental
Assessment Agency (CEAA). Smithers councillor Phil Brienesse wrote a letter against the project’s location and brought it to council Tuesday night for a vote on whether to send it to CEAA (visit interiornews.com to see the result). Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen suggests moving it to nearby Ridley Island, which is already the planned site for BG Group’s Prince Rupert LNG project. Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson also opposes the location of the project. See SCIENCE on A4
NAVERONE WOODS CASE DELAYS Police watchdog says rash of shootings delayed probe into Woods’ death.
WATSON IN FLYERS HALL OF FAME Smithers-raised NHL star Jimmy Watson reflects on his career after HOF induction.
HAZELTON REC CENTRE Committee hopes to break ground on the new facility by this fall.
NEWS/A2
SPORTS/A10
THREE RIVERS/A25
Friday Only! see last page in A
By Chris Gareau
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