Province Talks With First Nations Over Logging

Written by Peter McIntyre Friday, 19 March 2010 15:14

Members of Okanagan First Nations held a conference call with provincial government bureaucrats today, lasting more than two hours.

The parties were talking about how to settle the dispute that has seen the Okanagan Indian Band block Tolko Industries from logging the Browns Creek area.

Band chief Fabian Alexis says issues like water, timber and archeology were discussed.

Okanagan Grand Chief Stewart Phillip (pictured) calls the session "positive",  but says more meetings will be needed before there's progress.

"So it's something that's not going to resolve itself in two or three meetings. It's going to demand a very well planned organized process."

The First Nations were not given any assurance that Tolko won't be allowed to log the disputed area.

The company plans to do that after spring break-up, and has government and court approval to proceed.

Phillip says they made it clear that invoking an enforcement order to remove their logging blockade, will only make the situation worse.

"Myself and Chief Alexis have agreed to be arrested in the event it comes to that, and that will only serve to inflame the situation."

Alexis says the meeting involved reps from the Ministry of Environment and from the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations.

Phillip says the Ministry of Forest was not represented and they told the province it was essential they be part of the process.

Phillip says they don't want the process to just serve as a "smoke screen to burn up time,  and after break-up have Tolko aggressively trying to access the cut block areas."