Evidence on the Adequacy of First Nations Consultation - BC Hydro ...
Evidence on the Adequacy of First Nations Consultation - BC Hydro ...
Evidence on the Adequacy of First Nations Consultation - BC Hydro ...
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DRAFT REPORT: Rights and Title Interests in <strong>the</strong> Columbia Valley Transmissi<strong>on</strong> Project Area<br />
relocati<strong>on</strong> to <strong>the</strong> Columbia Valley, for <strong>on</strong> previous visits to <strong>the</strong> area <strong>the</strong>y may have noticed an<br />
abundance <strong>of</strong> furs and pelts. 122 The reas<strong>on</strong> for <strong>the</strong> move is entirely plausible.<br />
2.2 The Kinbasket Migrati<strong>on</strong><br />
Disagreement <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kinbasket Shuswap has c<strong>on</strong>tributed to tense relati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
between <strong>the</strong> Ktunaxa and <strong>the</strong> Shuswap Indian Band in recent years and to charges <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> KFN’s<br />
superior attachment to <strong>the</strong> country. An example <strong>of</strong> such claims can be found in <strong>the</strong><br />
November/December 2008 issue <strong>of</strong> Ktuqcqayam, presented as <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficial newsletter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Ktunaxa Nati<strong>on</strong>. Speaking <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ktunaxa Nati<strong>on</strong>’s oppositi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jumbo Ski Resort and <strong>the</strong><br />
Kinbasket Shuswap’s agreement with <strong>the</strong> resort developers, <strong>the</strong> Ktunaxa Nati<strong>on</strong> Chair, Chief<br />
Sophie Pierre, is quoted as saying in October 2008:<br />
The Kinbasket people do not have <strong>the</strong> same level <strong>of</strong> history or<br />
commitment to our traditi<strong>on</strong>al territory…Our creati<strong>on</strong> story is quite clear<br />
that Ktunaxa have a resp<strong>on</strong>sibility to be stewards <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> land, and we take<br />
that role seriously. 123<br />
Pierre’s reference to <strong>the</strong> “same level <strong>of</strong> history” relates undoubtedly to <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tentious issue <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> so-called Kinbasket migrati<strong>on</strong>, particularly <strong>the</strong> timing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> relocati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> a small group <strong>of</strong><br />
individuals whose descendants created <strong>the</strong> current Shuswap Indian Band. The two opposing<br />
positi<strong>on</strong>s, as presented by community leaders and presented in reports commissi<strong>on</strong>ed by <strong>the</strong><br />
respective <strong>First</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>s are set out below in secti<strong>on</strong>s 2.2.1 and 2.2.2. Al<strong>on</strong>g with a summary <strong>of</strong><br />
each opini<strong>on</strong> is a discussi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> data up<strong>on</strong> which <strong>the</strong> opini<strong>on</strong> is based.<br />
2.2.1 The C<strong>on</strong>temporary View <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kinbasket Migrati<strong>on</strong> As Provided by <strong>the</strong> Shuswap<br />
Indian Band and <strong>the</strong> Ktunaxa Nati<strong>on</strong><br />
The Ktunaxa view <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Shuswap Indian Band’s history is included in statements <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> cultural<br />
affiliati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Ktunaxa Nati<strong>on</strong> Council members, available <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> website <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ktunaxa <strong>First</strong><br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>. Here <strong>the</strong>y states:<br />
The majority <strong>of</strong> Ktunaxa Nati<strong>on</strong> citizens originate from <strong>the</strong> Ktunaxa or<br />
Kootenai culture. However, <strong>the</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong> also c<strong>on</strong>tains descendants <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Kinbasket family, a small group <strong>of</strong> Shuswap (Secwepemc) people who<br />
journeyed east from Shuswap territory in <strong>the</strong> mid-1800's into Ktunaxa<br />
122 Shuswap Indian Band 2008, page 30.<br />
123 http://www.ktunaxa.org/ktuqcqakyam/documents/NovDec2008issue_000.pdf; Chief Pierre’s statement<br />
was also circulated in an October 20, 2008 press release: http://www.ktunaxa.org/news/documents/2008-10-20-<br />
MediaRelease.pdf. Accessed October 5, 2009.<br />
Bouchard & Kennedy Research C<strong>on</strong>sultants Page 25<br />
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