As you can see from the photo above, construction is proceeding on the house on top of Grace Islet on Salt Spring Island. This is a recognized First Nation’s burial site and it is not known how long construction will continue. The 13 municipalities in the Capital Regional Districtpassed a resolution condemning the desecration of a sacred site and requested that BC’s Archaeology Branch rescind the permit allowing construction. Salt Spring Islanders opposed to the building have started a “No House Here” campaign. Meanwhile a spokesperson from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations said the protests are being directed at the wrong level of government.
The 9th annual Paddle for the Peace begins today: Saturday, July 12, 2014. This year’s trek is especially important because of the impending decision on British Columbia’s proposed Site C dam. If this project is approved, close to 9,429 acres of class 1-5 farmland will be submerged by water. The government will also be breaking treaty 8, which promised the local First Nations they would be allowed to pursue their traditional way of life in this area “for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow.” In its zeal to develop Site C, British Columbia’s Provincial Government could miss the opportunity to build what is, potentially, the biggest solar project in North America,
The Provincial Government just got a (political) black eye at Grace Islet, on Salt Spring Island. The Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resources Operations Archaeology Branch approved an alteration permit that would have allowed someone to build his vacation home over a recognized First Nation’s burial site. Capital Regional District (CRD) passed a resolution stating this is a desecration of first Nation’s Remains which came about because of the Archaeology Branch’s failure to adequately consult with First Nations. This problem should be solved through negotiation. CRD Requests Permit for Grace Island be Suspended
Originally Broadcast on Cortes Community Radio, CKTZ, 89.5 FM
Grace Islet is a recognized centuries old First Nations burial ground on Salt Spring Island BC, that is zoned residential. In an attempt to satisfy both concerns, British Columbia’s Archaeology Branch decided to allow an Alberta businessman to build his waterfront vacation home on Grace Islet providing he put it on stilts that go over the grave sites.
Editor’s note for readers outside BC, this pertains to one of the province’s two proposed pipeline projects that would bring diluted bitumen from Alberta.
By Roy L Hales
The Proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline has just hit another snag. On July 4 British Columbia’s attorney filed a motion with the National Energy Boardrequesting more detailed information on how Kinder Morgan would respond to maritime and land-based spills. There are 70 questions, which have not been adequately addressed. They pertain to two of the five requirements that must be met before BC will support any heavy oil pipeline.
