TEZTAN BINY FISH LAKE Prosperity Project Canadian Environmental Assessment Suggested Site Tour Loretta Williams Mining Coordinator Tsilhqot’in Stewardship Council Tsilhqot’in Stewardship Department 253 4 th Avenue North | Williams Lake, BC | V2G 4T 1 Table of Contents Page 3 Introduction Page 3 Etiquette When Visiting Xeni Gwet'in Tr aditional Territor y – Xeni Gwet’in Community Guide Page 4 Nenduwh Jid Guzit’in - Xeni Gwet’in Declaration Page 6 1983 General Assembly of Chilcotin Nation – Declaration of Sovereignty Page 9 1998 General Assembly of Chilcotin Nation – Declaration of Sovereignty Page 13 List of General Sites Page 15 Appendix A: List of Sensitive – Confidential Sites • Sites of importance for Tsilhqot’in • Archaeology - Corridor • Petroglyph Site • Big Creek • Significant Lakes along the Proposed Corridor east of Fish Lake • Archaeology – Fish Lake • Archaeology – Large Island on Fish Lake 2 Introduction In order to enter Tsilhqot’in Territory one needs to adhere to the rules and laws that come with entering our caretaker area. There are sacred mountains and sites that are scattered throughout Tsilhqot’in Territory that are sensitive and one must abide by the rules and etiquette. For example: The Story of Tsil?os (Mt. Tatlow): “I guess Sammy William was riding with him and he told Roy the story about Mount Tatlow. He told Roy that this peak called Mount Tatlow was once a man before. Tatlow had a wife named ?Eniyud. Between them they had six kids altogether. I guess they split up. Couldn't get along with each other. Each of them took three kids and separated. Tatlow turned into a rock with his kids above Xeni Lake and ?Eniyud turned into a rock with her kids over the other side of Tatlayoko Lake. Sammy told Roy that when you point at Tatlow he'll make it rain or snow on you.” - as told by Sammy William. Story taken off the Xeni Gwet’in Website There are many sites within the Tsilhqot’in much like the one of Ts’il?os. Ts’il?os cannot be pointed at. He was once a human and it is rude to point at someone. Without a Tsilhqot’in guide you will go into out Territory unaware of the significance of the sites you are about the visit. This document will come with an appendix that is CONFIDENTIAL and cannot be given to the public or posted for public review. We have concerns about public disclosure of culturally sensitive information. The appendix identifies specific sites of archaeological, cultural and spiritual importance to the Tsilhqot’in people. We are concerned that public disclosure of these locations could lead to harm to these sites. Because of this we ask you to use Appendix A only if you assure us that these locations will not be posted on your website or otherwise made public. I will include protocol that has been written by the Tsilhqot’in People of the years: The Xeni Gwet’in Declaration, the Xeni Gwet’in Community Guide, and the 1993 and 1998 Declaration of Sovereignty. Etiquette When Visiting Xeni Gwet'in Tr aditional Territor y – Xeni Gwet’in Community Guide Visitors are able to pursue traditional recreational activities that are in keeping with the wilderness character of the area. Remember that you are a guest in our home. Respect the privacy and customs of our people and communities. Enter homes only when you are invited and do not wander across residential areas or destroy property. Please observe our customs and regulations; enjoy your visit to the Xeni Gwet'in Caretaker area. Aircraft: Used to access local airports, heli-activities are not supported by the community. Permits: Visiting the Caretaker area is encouraged and regulations imposed by the Province of British Columbia for hunting and fishing apply. Please ensure that you have appropriate permits and licenses. Area use is under review by the Xeni Gwet'in First 3 Nations government. Future policy and permitting processes will comply with terms of use over land and waters within the Caretaker area. Photography: Respect our privacy and request our permission before-taking pictures. Our preferences and comfort may vary widely. Do not reproduce or sell photographs of our people without their written permission. Sketching, Audio and Video Recording: May be prohibited; consult your guide for direction. Ceremonies: As these arc sacred events, dress and act respectfully. Please do not ask questions or comment during dances. Applause after dances is typically not appropriate as these dances arc religious ceremonies, not performances. Discretely consult your guide and follow the lead of other community members. Cultural, Heritage and Burial Areas: Do not disturb or remove items and/or artifacts. Artifacts are owned by the Xeni Gwet'in people and must be left in their place. The Xeni Gwet'in is currently considering marking special heritage and cultural sites, including burial areas. Out of respect visitors are asked to refrain from infringing on these areas. First Nation antiquity will be strictly enforced. Off Road or Off Trail: The Community supports a policy of guided non-motorized Access to the back country. Motorized off road vehicles are prohibited except to aid in traditional and licensed activities (trapping and stock grazing). All terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other motorized transportation are restricted to designated roads/ trails. Designation is under development. Trail Cutting: Is not permitted in the Caretaker area without written approval of the Xeni Gwet'in First Nations Government. Gates: If open, keep open. If closed, close behind you. Fences: Cutting fence is not permitted without written approval of the Xeni Gwet'in First Nations Government. Cycling: Is allowed only on designated trails. Trails designations are under development. Back Country Hiking and Backpacking: Use established routes. The community is concerned about the impact of increased visitors and is preparing area use guidelines. Inexperienced backpackers are recommended to use a local guide. Travel: Maximum speed within the Xeni Gwet'in Caretaker area communities is 50 kilometres per hour unless otherwise posted. Keep your speed at a minimum and respect our people, wildlife, residences and lodges. Pl ease tread lightly. Ancient ruin s, artifacts, fossils and historic remains are fragile and irreplaceable. 4 Nenduwh Jid Guzit’in - Xeni Gwet’in Declaration Let it be known as of August 23, 1989: We, the Tsilhqot'in People of Xeni, known as the Nemiah Valley Indian Band, declare that the lands shown on the map attached, which form part of our traditional territory, are, and shall henceforth be known as: Nemiah Aboriginal Wilderness Preserve Let it be known that within the Nemiah Aboriginal Wilderness Preserve: 1. There shall be no commercial logging. Only local cutting of trees for our own needs, i.e. firewood, housing, fencing, native uses, etc. 2. There shall be no mining or mining explorations. 3. There shall be no commercial road building. 4. All-terrain vehicles and skidoos shall only be permitted for trapping purposes. 5. There shall be no flooding or dam construction on Chilko, Taseko, and Tatlayoko Lakes. 6. This is the spiritual and economic homeland of our people. We will continue in perpetuity: a) to have and exercise our traditional rights of hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, and natural resources; b) to carry on our traditional ranching way of life; c) to practice our traditional native medicine, religion, sacred, and spiritual ways. 7. That we are prepared to SHARE our Nemiah Aboriginal Wilderness Preserve with non-natives in the following ways; a) with our permission visitors may come and view and photograph our beautiful land; b) we will issue permits, subject to our conservation rules, for hunting and fishing within our Preserve; c) the respectful use of our Preserve by canoeists, hikers, light campers, and other visitors is encouraged, subject to our system of permits. 8. We are prepared to enforce and defend our Aboriginal rights in any way we are able. 5 1 9 8 3 General Assembly of the Chilcotin Nation A Declaration of Sovereignty Territory From the Fraser River to the Coastal Mountains and from the territory of the Lillooet to the territory of the Carrier Nations is Chilcotin country. The heart of our country is the Chilcotin River and its tributary lakes and streams. This has been the territory of the Chilcotin Nation for longer than any man can say and it will always be our country; the outlying parts we have always shared with our neighbours – Nuxalk, Kwakiutl, Lillooet, Carrier and Shuswap –but the heartland belongs to none but the Chilcotin. Our mountains and valleys, lakes, rivers and creeks all carry names given to them by the Chilcotin people: Anaham, Niut and Itcha, Chilko, Taseko and Chilanko, Tatla, Nemiah and Toosey. Our territory is that which is named in our language. All living things in our country – animals, birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, worms and flies, fish, trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants – also bear the names given to them in the language of the Chilcotin. Affinity The Chilcotin are part of the greater nation of the Deni whose language is spoken in territories that extend from Hudson’s Bay to Alaska and Asia, from the northernmost forests to the equator. The Apache and Navjo are Deni. The Sekani, Taltan, Kutchin, Nahani, Kaska, Sarcee and Chipewyan are Deni. So are the Carrier, the Hare, the Dogrib, the Yellowknife, the Salvey and the Beaver people. The Deni Nation is vast and we are part of it. We are the Chilcotin. History of Illegal Colonization of our Nation The first white men to enter our country did so only with our permission and when we told them to leave they left. When men settled in our country without permission, we drove them out.