Good afternoon. Before we jump into my case study, we pause for a short commercial message. My name is David Carson. TECO is an international environmental management consulting Please pardon the corny use of alliteration in my title. I firm dedicated to balancing the social, economic, and promise never to do it again. environmental outcomes of your project.

I would like to thank the forum organizers for their invitation Over 40 years as Timberline Natural Resource Group we came to be the Canadian leader in forestry and related natural resource to speak. consulting.

I wish to acknowledge the First Peoples - the Métis and the TECO now offers best-in class services in the following practice Nations of Treaty 6 who have shared this land and are our areas: hosts. • Carbon; • Community; I wish to recognize the Chiefs and Elders who are present • Ecology; today. • Energy; • Forest; Finally, I offer particular thanks to the people of In-SHUCK-ch • Land; and for their confidence in TECO over the years. • Technology.

1 2 The goal of my presentation is to illustrate how the In-SHUCK-ch people have been creating and utilizing opportunities to advance their Nation. It is an intriguing story and a work in progress.

3 4 This paper was originally presented on January 24 th , 2008 at In-SHUCK-ch Nation has been advancing by taking multiple the Aboriginal Forestry 2008 conference held in Vancouver by approaches. the Pacific Business and Law Institute. After introducing the In-SHUCK-ch people, we will describe those My co-presenter was Shawn Gabriel of In-SHUCK-ch. I give approaches and the progress that has been made. While we will my thanks to Shawn. address all major initiatives, given the nature of this conference our focus will be on land and resource stewardship. I have updated the material to reflect the changes made over the past two years.

5 6 The people lived around and downstream from Green When the ground was dry Ntci’nemkin made the young people Lake. A great flood came and the people were afraid. Ntci’nemkin marry each other and he sent them out to all the good food had a large canoe in which he took his family, and one child, males places. Their descendents are the Lillooet people. and females, from each family. The water continued to rise and all the land was submerged except nsékets (In-SHUCK-ch Mountain).

7 8 Situated in south coastal , the traditional territory It is a beautiful land. This is the north end of . of the In-SHUCK-ch Nation is defined by the height of land around the watersheds of the Lower Lillooet, Stave, and Pitt Rivers.

The territory stretches south from approximately the midpoint of to Long Island in Harrison Lake. The territory is accessible by logging road only. The road from the north is rough but passable. The road from the south is very rough and is avoided by most. This past winter a hillside failed and the road is now closed.

There are six inhabited communities embedded within the mountainous and forested landscape of the territory. The communities of In-SHUCK-ch are surrounded by the land and resources which sustain them.

9 10 This is Lillooet Lake. It has a rich history, both pre-contact …

This is a traditional fishing site.

11 12 This is the interior of the traditional Ishkin or pit house … and in the colonial period.

This is a view of a portion of the Gold Rush Trail which runs through the territory, and the Church of the Holy Cross at .

13 14 However, despite its proximity to the major metropolitan area of Over the last 20 years In-SHUCK-ch Nation has made enormous B.C., the territory is remote. strides in nation building. The approach has been to take direction from the people, declare it to be real, and make it The road is poor and there is repeated flooding and occasional happen. land slides. THIS IS THE POTHOLES PART. By walking and talking like a Nation, In-SHUCK-ch has forced others to take notice. The communities are not on the BC power grid but work is In May of 2005 In-SHUCK-ch Nation was formally declared a underway to change that. sovereign nation by resolution of the people.

Nor do they have standard telephone service. Lack of infrastructure is a serious barrier to advancement.

Poverty is an issue, but the people are resilient.

15 16 Also mandated by resolution, the In-SHUCK-ch Nation Interim THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS ANOTHER OF THE POTHOLES. Government is composed of the elected Chiefs and Council of the Douglas First Nation and the Samahquam Nation and the Douglas First Nation has voted to remove themselves from the traditional Chief and Council of . treaty process. However Samahquam and Skatin have made clear The interim government was given a broad mandate to define, their intention to proceed and they keep the third seat open. exercise, and protect the Nation’s title and rights and to implement the nation using the Seven Generations Plan . The three member communities have been writing constitutions. An In-SHUCK-ch constitution will be prepared when all three communities are finished

17 18 In-SHUCK-ch Nation recognizes that progress will require healthy Many people and organizations contribute to achieving the individuals, healthy families and healthy communities. following goals for In-SHUCK-ch communities: •Healing; •A modern standard of living; •A strong cultural identity; •Renewed connection to the land; and •A bright future.

19 20 Building strong communities: • New school in Skatin As business people we must never forget that our initiatives • Sylvia Shanoss formerly a wellness worker from Lower depend on the results of these programmes and we must support Sta'atl'imx Tribal Council them when we can. • Vern Shanoss who so eloquently describes the concept of wellness in the individual first, the family second, and the For example sponsorship of cultural events. community third.

21 22 THIS IS THE PATIENCE PART. The Provincial and Federal governments and the First Nations Summit created the British Columbia Treaty Commission in 1992 to Despite all of the progress of human kind over the last hundred oversee the management of modern day treaties in this province. years, aboriginal communities in have benefited little. In-SHUCK-ch saw this as a very tangible opportunity. Rather than You know the issues, dependency, poverty, culture, education, continuing to wait and hope that conditions will change, this process housing, suicide, abuse, mortality. allows them to take an active role in determining their future.

Patience is running out. Successful treaty negotiations will legislate the ability to govern themselves, to make their own laws concerning their community, to be entrepreneurs and participate in the Canadian economy, to raise their children to be proud of their lineage, and to use and protect their traditional territory and its resources in ways that are appropriate to them.

23 24 Profile building is an important element of Nation building. In-SHUCK-ch’s Statement of Intent was the first to be received by Chief Commissioner Chuck Connaghan when the Commission opened its doors In-SHUCK-ch was well represented at the Association of B.C. on December 15th of 1993. Forest Professionals annual meeting in in 2007 and in Penticton in 2008. In-SHUCK-ch Nation is currently negotiating with Canada and British Columbia in stage five (negotiation of a final agreement) of the six stage BC Treaty Commission process.

Governance of the In-SHUCK-ch Nation will be focused on fostering and develop-ing wholesome and healthy communities.

A government model is being prepared, without reference to treaty or the Indian Act , which will outline the establishment of a three branch government including Legislative (law making), Executive (administration), and Judicial Branches. This format, by design and intent, will provide direct accountability to the citizens.

25 26 NOW WE COME TO THE PLANNING PART. In-SHUCK-ch Nation has prepared a Seven Generations Plan through which the In-SHUCK-ch people have directed their Planning, as part of a full title and rights program, ensures that leadership to implement the Nation. The basic purpose of the the Nation arrives at the negotiation table with a strong vision plan is to protect the integrity of the In-SHUCK-ch people as a for the landscape. sovereign nation.

The plan states who the In-SHUCK-ch people are, what is important to us, and where we want to go as a Nation. It encompasses governance, social wellbeing, and wealth creation.

27 28 The plan is based on a circular world view, where the ancestors, TECO’s central contribution to In-SHUCK-ch Nation is the Land those living today, and those yet unborn are all tied together, and Stewardship Plan . More than a forestry plan, it is a land use plan, where we share the earth with all other living things, and non- a resource management plan, and an economic development living things. plan.

This world view says that those living now have a duty to protect The Land Stewardship Plan proclaims the intentions of In-SHUCK- the values from the past, in planning for the future in a modern ch with regard to protecting the environment, defending world. language, culture, and traditions, and the wise use of resources. In-SHUCK-ch people view the land and all that it contains as an organism.

29 30 Stewardship is based on the following principles:

Stewardship may be defined as holistic care and wise and -In-SHUCK-ch, as Aboriginal people, must boldly take leadership in culturally sensitive use. environmental and cultural stewardship;

Closely tied to stewardship is economic development to support -In-SHUCK-ch must follow an innovative approach to cultural social advancement. rebirth and social development through economic self sufficiency;

Key to understanding the In-SHUCK-ch approach is realizing that -Education, training, and capacity building, are the foundation to a resource stewardship and community are so interwoven that they measured and step-wise assumption of responsibility; and can not be separated. - Given ongoing changes in the forest economy, transition to an inclusive and participatory model of forest and community development is mandatory.

31 32 HERE IS THE PROGRAM PART. On July 6th, 2007 Pat Bell, B.C. Minister of Agriculture and Lands, and the Chiefs of the Samahquam, Skatin, and Douglas Nations • Through the Seven Generations Plan and the Land Stewardship signed a strategic land use planning agreement which harmonized Plan the In-SHUCK-ch Nation has developed a vision of the B.C. Sea-to-Sky LRMP and the In-SHUCK-ch Land Stewardship stewardship for the traditional territory. Plan . This historic agreement assures that the In-SHUCK-ch People are • The activities of others can have serious impacts on resources able to ensure that our vision for our territory is achieved. that are critical to the In-SHUCK-ch Nation. It is therefore important to have influence on all activities undertaken within the territory.

• The development of a clear protocol for effective and timely response to external resource referrals and consultation requests will greatly assist the Nation to ensure that such compatible development takes place.

33 34 An example program is the consultation and accommodation • Take leadership in stewardship; process. • Develop an environment of certainty for ourselves and other TECO designed, implemented, and administered a referrals resource users; process for In-SHUCK-ch. That process has now been successful integrated into the workflow of the Nation. • Influence outcomes and protect the resources;

Development and use of the consultation and accommodation • Identify economic opportunities maximize In-SHUCK-ch protocols has helped In-SHUCK-ch: involvement in development activities. • Build a positive image of nationhood; • Assert Aboriginal Title and exercise Aboriginal Rights; • Meet legal responsibilities and stay informed; • Effectively respond to referrals in a timely manner; and • Build profile and relationships.

35 36 The consultation request and referral process is web based and In addition a web based mapping tool allows In-SHUCK-ch staff or fully electronic. referring agencies review pertinent data quickly and easily.

To assist the referring agency the website provides: • Background information; • A detailed consultation policy; • Instructions and answers to frequently asked questions; • In-SHUCK-ch planning documents and government background documents; • Digital data (shapefiles) downloads of In-SHUCK-ch mapping features; and • Contact information.

37 38 With no training in mapping, one can simply choose extent The wealth associated with the natural resources of the In-SHUCK- of the map and the information to be displayed. ch territory has been removed from the territory with very little economic benefit flowing to the people of In-SHUCK-ch. With limited participation in the extraction of natural resources, the In-SHUCK-ch people have moved to places where they could make a living and benefit from the general economy. This out-migration has left only 25% of the population at home in the territory, and has had a drastic negative effect on In-SHUCK-ch culture and identity.

39 40 I spoke earlier about cultural rebirth and social development THIS IS THE PROGRESS PART. through economic self sufficiency. With a greater ability to participate in economic development in In-SHUCK-ch sees a sustainable economy being kick-started by the the In-SHUCK-ch territory, there will be a greater ability to forest sector due to the availability of resources. Independent improve living conditions in the territory. power projects will accelerate the process. Ultimately the tourism sector will be the foundation of the economy based on proximity This in turn will encourage our people to move back home. As a to the . result the In-SHUCK-ch culture and identity will be restored so that it can continue to be passed on to future generations.

With the people living at home in the In-SHUCK-ch territory, they will be more inclined to speak the language and carry out traditional practices.

41 42 Listed here are several examples of successful ventures: In-SHUCK-ch has promoted the construction of the “Sasquatch Trail”, a highway through the territory forming a circle route with • Harvest of volume under a Forest and Range Agreement with B.C.; Highway 1 through the , and Highway 99 in the Sea- to-Sky corridor. • A joint venture partnership with Lizzie Bay Logging to undertake commercial harvesting operations under a newly purchased Forest Licence; This plan would provide alternate access for all communities from Squamish to Port Douglas and be the foundation of economic • Road maintenance contract with B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range; development, including tourism, in the territory.

• Douglas First Nation and Cloudworks Energy green power projects; and Taking an incremental approach, British Columbia has contributed $75,000 towards an engineering study and the costs of • Stewardship service. improvements over time.

43 44 Xa’xtsa, also known as Douglas First Nation, and Cloudworks Benefits to the community are: Energy Inc. • Training and short and long-term employment; • Contracting opportunities; Together they have accomplished a large run-of-river power • Safe and reliable power; project which will have an enormous positive impact on the • Improved access to the community and communication quality of life of the Douglas people. infrastructure; • Environmental mitigation projects; Douglas has undertaken this approach independent of the • Playgrounds and a basketball court; treaty process and the larger Stl’atl’imx tribe. • An economic development building; and • Downstream revenue. Also constructed was this meeting hall which is reminiscent of the traditional ishkin or pit house.

45 46 The stewardship plan anticipated the establishment of an In- The Stewardship Service is based on resource management SHUCK-ch Stewardship Service. This group of In-SHUCK-ch activities which are tied to the changing of the seasons. members, dedicated to the resources of the territory, is a key element to the development of a resource based economy within Permanent employment at home will mimic the traditional the Traditional Territory of In-SHUCK-ch. seasonal round of utilizing resources as they are available

Establishing the Stewardship Service provides the structure required to meet the following objectives: - Protect the resources of the territory which are the foundation of culture and language; - Facilitate wise use of those resources to fund social development; - Provide stable employment in the territory thereby ensuring long-term connection to the land; and -Build healthy and viable communities.

47 48 TECO has operated the stewardship crew for three years. Capacity Building - What Have We Achieved so Far?

Capacity building has from the beginning been a driver for this Taking advantage of significant amounts of inventory and ecology process. Implicit in the relationship has been the eventual field work in the vicinity of the territory … withdrawal of TECO from the day-to-day operations. TECO hired one Skatin First Nations member, Daniel Peters, to TECO’s legacy will be the establishment within In-SHUCK-ch of a assist field crews and Daniel was with us for four years. number of programmes which will enjoy sufficient skills within the Nation to be independent, and a depth of capacity so as to be self- sustaining.

49 50 On a fuel management project in two communities of A breakthrough came with the award to In-SHUCK-ch Samahquam Nation, TECO utilized a Samahquam forestry crew of Development Corporation of a three year vegetation management five. This was good work but not permanent. contract by BC Hydro and BC Transmission Corporation for work under the wires within the Territory.

We thank BC Transmission Corporation for providing the opportunity.

There is not enough work associated with that contract to keep a crew busy through the year but it is enough to get things started.

TECO hired four forest workers on a permanent basis to be stationed in the territory. Two of these individuals worked for us with Samahquam.

In addition to the Hydro work, this crew is now doing fuel management work and support for various projects in the territory.

51 52 In March of 2010 the stewardship service was taken up by In- Potholes but progress, indeed. SHUCK-ch Development Corporation and the employment of the crew switched over. In-SHUCK-ch Nation is making a way for itself and we are pleased to be on the path with them. This was a very satisfying conclusion to the initiative. We have built some great relationships.

53 54 HERE IS THE POTENTIAL PART. I would like to thank Douglas First Nation, Samahquam Nation, and Skatin Nations for their support. Of course there are road blocks. Remote locations and poverty leave people unprepared for work. I would especially like to thank the leadership, staff, and The lack of communication infrastructure makes coordination and people of In-SHUCK-ch Nation, whose support, ideas, and logistics difficult. inspiration are the foundation of this presentation. Social issues make attendance difficult at times. Lack of experience means steep learning curves and higher initial investment in training. If it were easy we would not be here discussing this today. With determination and good business planning all things can be overcome.

55 56 To the determined people of In-SHUCK-ch I say k’ukwstum’ckacw.

Thank you for your attention.

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