Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Thank you for responding to Kanaka’s invitation and coming to the site today. There is no way that Nlaka’pamux history our Kanaka Bar’s past and our hopes, dreams and aspirations for the future can be communicated meaningfully in a short time frame. The following pictures and comments are just a snap shot. They are not intended to be controversial and are provided to inspire questions. This document is also intended as a public document and may be shared and cited by any person. Please ask your questions today, or contact us tomorrow, if anything you see, read or hear triggers any questions at all. Kanaka Bar Community Liaison [email protected] Phone: 250-455-2200 ext 225 for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 1 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Kanaka Bar is known traditionally as T’eqt’aqtn (crossing place) and the people who live there are the T’eqt’aqtn’mux (the crossing place people). First contact with explorers occurred in June of 1808 with the passing through of Simon Fraser. From our stories, the first fifty years of contact was not too bad as we traded and sold our foods, tools and wares to the first explorers, settlers and missionaries. Something changed though, it was the finding of gold in 1857 that generated an influx of new people, people who did not care about the land, the resources and the original peoples. The Fraser Canyon War was fought and settled in 1858 and then the colony was declared and for the Nlaka’pamux, it was down hill after that. In 1858, around the time the Fraser Canyon Gold rush was ending, T’eqt’aqtn was named Kanaka Bar by a colonial gold commissionaire after Hawaiian gold miners working the river. We are now one of the remaining 16 present day communities that make up the Nlaka’pamux Nation today. Only 3 are shown above. for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 2 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison In 1871, Kanaka jurisdiction over land and resource uses within our community caretaker area was usurped unilaterally by the “divisions of powers” sections of the British North America Act. By 1876, pursuant to section 91(24), Kanaka membership, land and resource use and jurisdiction was restricted to six reserves totaling 700 acres, 250 of which were subsequently alienated for public rights of way. Lands adjacent to Kanaka were been allocated to settlers in fee simple, water licenses were granted and mineral rights allocated all the while the Land Ordinance Act made it explicitly clear, Indians were not allowed to acquire ownership of lands and resources, an act that existed until repealed in the 1950’s. St George’s Residential school located at Lytton was in operation until 1976. Kanaka land and resource jurisdiction seemingly remains curtailed by the now enshrined 1982 Constitution Act. The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that aboriginal rights and title exist and that such rights and title are recognized and confirmed in the same Constitution Act. Litigation has now resulted in “consultation and accommodation” requirements. Kanaka is now receiving referral letters from Front Counter BC asking for our comments on proposed land and resource uses “off reserve”. We can’t really keep up as “consultation and accommodation” does not mean we also get resources to respond (human, technological, professional or financial). for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 3 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Much of Kanaka Bar’s culture and traditional land and resource uses survived contact and colonization albeit in a reduced state. Kanaka feels that what was lost can be regained….after all, our ancestors developed a history, language, culture and used land and resources to live without modern day materials and technology. Membership today seek to balance a traditional lifestyle with modern day wage economy and practices. Not everyone really wants to return to wearing furs, living in holes in the ground, with no electricity, no running hot and cold water and no toilets. Its not easy finding the balance. for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 4 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Chief James Frank has been in Kanaka leadership position since 1975. By unanimous decision, the Nlaka’pamux Nation is not a participant in the existing treaty process. Kanaka attempts at addressing localized wrong doings under the specific claims process has produced no meaningful results. Depending on the federal and provincial government to provide reparation for the past by doing “the right thing” is going to be a long wait. It must be done at some point though. How then does our community move forward when our past is so heavy on our hearts and on our minds. By doing something different. for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 5 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Evelyn Michell was Kanaka’s councilor to Chief James Frank from 1978 to 2009. Together, Evelyn’ and James worked to lay the foundations for a new future. Evelyn liked to say: “We are all products of our environment, its when we become aware of this that we can either give up, move away or we can change our environment” Evelyn’s last leadership request was that 4 new councilors assume community leadership positions as she knew that it would not be long before our first project became a reality and that our leadership burdens would increase. for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 6 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Applying to the province for a water license is not a popular amongst First Nations. In 1988, a flood of applicants on creeks across BC surfaced when BC Hydro announced an Independent Power Production policy. By the time Kanaka filed its application, 3 other hydro project water licenses were on Kwoiek creek . These first 3 developers were not very interested in a partnership or any type of relationship with Kanaka . The provincial water policy was “first in line, first in right” and consultation and accommodation requirements were in their infancy. Discussion with these first developers introduced to the community vocabulary “speculators” and “flippers”. It took 10 years to get the province to implement a “use it or lose it” principle. With a community application in, Kanaka also gathered and wrote up baseline data regarding land, resources and water. Kanaka’s indigenous knowledge about traditional uses land archeological sites was already known. Kanaka also had the best lands for the powerhouse. Its on “Indian Reserve” land. The Kwoiek project is a hybrid meaning both federal and provincial governments had to be involved in the project review and approval process. This opportunity to engage the governments in a positive way was welcomed by Kanaka who was exasperated at a seemingly endless series of injunctions, rights and title litigations and “talks” and delay tactics. Kanaka also had community support for doing something different. With these 4 assets, Kanaka was able to leverage a strong development and then partnership agreement which results ultimately in 100% ownership of the project and its revenues. What Chief James did was bring something other than “asserted rights and title” to the table. for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 7 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Covered by CBC and BCTV. for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 8 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison At least 40% of any daily work is been performed by local Nlaka’pamux with another 15% provided by locals from the Boston Bar to Lytton area. Employment is just a small part of project related impacts. The list of tangible and intangible benefits is quite lengthy. One day, Kanaka Bar will document and report on what the development, construction and operational effects of this clean energy project on us are. We will foreshadow….residual effects are not negative. Right now, the economic trickle down effect plus all the smiles on peoples faces and the improvements in community pride, self worth and self confidence is all that matters. for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 9 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Built and operated by locals with an Austrian supplier and trainer. for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 10 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Roads are now repaired and will be maintained to industry standard indefinitely. Long term effect will be to open up previously inaccessible lands and resources for further uses. This can be a double edged sword. Remember “build it, they will come” from Field of Dreams. Foundational discussion have been laid with the province for a “joint stewardship” initiative within Kanaka community caretaker areas but its still a little too progressive for them right now. That’s ok, the Nlaka’pamux, the T'eqt'aqtn'mux and the land and resources will still be here. for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 11 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Degraded forestry bridges are now repaired and will be maintained by the project indefinitely. for November 22, 2012 Site Visit 12 Prepared by Patrick Michell, Kanaka Bar Community Liaison Utilizing Kanaka lands comes with some costs. Arch sites are disturbed, traditional use areas are reduced or lost, access to fishing sites is partially limited, hunting in project foot print area is prohibited and all the fresh construction works well…it looks like a construction site. All of this was anticipated by Kanaka. The disturbances were approved back in the 2009 referendum. Impacts today for hope and opportunity tomorrow. The traditional use limitations are temporary and reclamations works are been done contemporaneous to construction so that visible impacts will be reduced sooner, rather than later.