Pictures source: Leona Marie Antoine

Five Nicola Valley Chiefs agreed to end their occupation of B.C. Premier Christy Clark’s office today after the Province committed to a high-level meeting with the Chiefs to resolve ongoing concerns about biowaste operations in the Nicola Valley.

“We have repeatedly told the Province that the biowaste operations pose a serious threat to our environment and to our Title and Rights,” said Chief Aaron Sam of the Lower Nicola Indian Band. “There needs to be a mediated process to resolve this situation in everyone’s interests. We are pleased that the Province today has finally committed to come and meet with us to reach an agreement on a process for addressing this issue.”

Chief Sam, along with Chief Harvey McLeod of the Upper Nicola Indian Band, Chief Marcel Shackelly of the Nooaitch Indian Band, Chief Percy Joe of the Shackan Indian and Chief Lee Spahan of the Coldwater Indian Band, has occupied Premier Clark’s Kelowna office since April 15, 2015.

The Chiefs made the decision to occupy Premier Clark’s office after the Province refused repeated offers by the Nicola Valley First Nations to enter into a process to find solutions to address concerns about the dumping of bio waste in the First Nations’ territories in the Nicola Valley.

“We decided we had no choice but to begin the occupation once it became clear that the Province was refusing to take our concerns seriously,” said Upper Nicola Indian Band Chief Harvey McLeod. “The Province should have sought our consent before allowing any kind of bio waste dumping on our lands. Instead, the Province refused to give us proper information about the effects of bio waste and went ahead and allowed the operations without even consulting us.”

The Chiefs are seeking a collaborative process with the Province to gather and share information about bio waste, manage and address impacts, and protect lands and wildlife in the Nicola Valley

During the occupation RCMP members were on site both day and night ensuring the protest remained peaceful.

Cpl. Joe Duncan said there had been no issues with the demonstrators and officers wished to show their appreciation for the peaceful protest.

“Supt. Tim Head gave Chief Sam a blanket, a symbol of respect for going through these peaceful negotiations and having an open and honest dialogue.”

Although he had never seen a gesture such as this before, Cpl. Duncan did say the RCMP giving the blanket was a positive step in any negotiations and that officers respect everyone in the community.

Thanks to Castanet for news files