Evidence on the Adequacy of First Nations Consultation - BC Hydro ...

THE KTUNAXA NATION AND THE UPPER COLUMBIA VALLEY
A SURVEY OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION
RELATING TO ABORIGINAL USE AND INTEREST
1. PREFACE AND OBJECTIVES
The B.C. Transmission Corporation wishes to construct a hydro-electric transmission line [the
Columbia Valley Transmission or CVT line] along the west side of the Columbia Valley from the
vicinity of Invermere to Golden, a distance of approximately 115 kilometres. As part of the
consultative requirement, the company has requested the Ktunaxa Nation to provide information
regarding its current and traditional uses and interests in areas perceived to be impacted by this
project [the study area].
This report seeks to provide information on these uses and interests gained from historical
documentation and ethnographic studies. The preparation of this report has not involved any
'traditional use' interviews with Ktunaxa elders and knowledge-holders. As such, this report is not
comprehensive and does not purport to provide a comprehensive summary of Ktunaxa traditional
and/or current interests and uses in the project area.
However, this report concludes that the historical documentation, supported by the consensus opinion
of nearly all ethnographers, points to the study area lying within the core traditional territory of the
Ktunaxa Nation and that it has been an important part of their seasonal round for a very long time.
2. BACKGROUND TO THE COLUMBIA VALLEY TRANSMISSION PROJECT
The proponent, B.C. Transmission Corporation, asserts that existing 69 kV transmission facilities in
the Invermere-Golden area are now operating close to capacity and proposes a new 230kV to meet
growing peak (winter) demand in the Golden area.. According to the Application of the proponent to
the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN)
for the project:
The CVT Project is proposed to address the electrical supply needs of the portion of
the Columbia Valley north of Invermere. The most pressing need is for reliable supply
to meet load growth, especially in and around the town of Golden. Load in this area is
forecast to presently exceed capacity of the present source of supply, a 69 kV
transmission line (circuit 60L271), fed by 230/69 kV transformation at Invermere
Substation (INV). The preferred solution to meet the identified need consists of the
construction of:
a) a new substation in the Golden area, to be named Kicking Horse Substation
(KHS);
b) a new 230 kV transmission line connecting the existing Invermere Substation
(INV) and the new Kicking Horse Substation (KHS);
c) a new 69 kV line to connect the new Kicking Horse Substation (KHS) to the
existing Golden substation (GDN); and
d) modifications at the existing substations in Golden, Invermere and Cranbrook.
These facilities would add cost effective and reliable capacity to address the load
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