Tsilhqot’in Nation Strategy: Towards Sector Strategies to address the Impact of Mountain Pine Beetle Working Document – November 2007 Prepared for: Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition Email: [email protected] Phone: (250) 392-9747 Fax: (250) 398-5941 Box 4883 Station Main Williams Lake, BC V2G 2V8 Prepared by: Read and Associates Victoria, BC Stonefield Consulting Williams Lake, BC and the Tsilhqot’in Stewardship Department - Tsilhqot’in National Government Williams Lake, BC • V2G 1M4 Phone: (250) 392-3918 • Fax: (250) 398-5798 © Tsilhqot’in National Government 2007 Table of Contents Table of Contents List of Acronyms ......................................................................................................................... i Executive Summary.................................................................................................................... ii 1.0 Background.......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.0 The Tsilhqot’in Communities............................................................................ 1 1.2.0 Objectives of the Tsilhqot’in Mountain Pine Beetle Economic Response Strategy ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.3.0 Aboriginal People and the Economy ................................................................. 2 1.4.0 The Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic and the Tsilhqot’in............................... 5 1.5.0 Constitutional Obligations ................................................................................. 6 2.0 Methodology......................................................................................................................... 9 3.0 Tsilhqot’in Nation............................................................................................................... 10 3.1.0 Barriers to Economic Development................................................................. 11 3.2.0 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (S.W.O.T.) ...................... 11 4.0 Community Chapters .......................................................................................................... 14 4.1.0 ?Esdilagh..................................................................................................................... 14 4.1.1 Community Profile........................................................................................... 14 4.1.2 Community Assets and Resources................................................................... 15 4.2.0 Tsi Del Del................................................................................................................... 16 4.21 Community Profile............................................................................................ 16 4.2.2 Community Assets and Resources................................................................... 17 4.4.0 Tl’esqox ....................................................................................................................... 18 4.4.1 Community Profile........................................................................................... 18 4.4.2 Community Assets and Resources................................................................... 19 4.5.0 Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government..................................................................... 20 4.5.1 Community Profile........................................................................................... 20 4.5.2 Community Assets and Resources................................................................... 23 4.6.0 Yunesit’in..................................................................................................................... 24 4.6.1 Community Profile........................................................................................... 24 4.6.2 Community Assets and Resources................................................................... 24 5.0 Community Wildfire Interface............................................................................................ 25 6.0.0 Forestry Sector................................................................................................................. 27 6.1.0 Sector Profile ............................................................................................................... 27 6.1.1 Land and Resource Management Issues.......................................................... 27 6.2.0 Tsilhqot’in Nation Forestry Strategy ........................................................................... 28 6.2.3 Land and Resource (Ecosystem) Stewardship Planning.................................................. 33 6.3.0 Tsilhqot’in Community Projects in Forestry ................................................................... 35 6.3.1 ?Esdilagh Projects in Forestry ......................................................................... 36 6.3.2 Tsi Del Del Projects in Forestry....................................................................... 37 6.3.3 Tl’esqox Projects in Forestry........................................................................... 38 6.3.4 Xeni Gwet’in Projects in Forestry ................................................................... 39 6.3.5 Yunesit’in Projects in Forestry ........................................................................ 41 7.0.0 Tourism Sector................................................................................................................ 42 7.1.0 Sector Profile ............................................................................................................... 42 Table of Contents 7.1.1 Land and Resource Management Issues.......................................................... 43 7.2.0 Tsilhqot’in Nation Tourism Strategy........................................................................... 44 7.3.0 Tsilhqot’in Community Tourism Projects .................................................................. 50 7.3.1 ?Esdilagh Projects in Tourism ........................................................................ 52 7.3.2 Tsi Del Del Projects in Tourism ...................................................................... 53 7.3.3 Tl’esqox Projects in Tourism........................................................................... 55 7.3.4 Xeni Gwet’in Projects in Tourism ................................................................... 57 7.3.5 Yunesit’in Projects in Tourism ....................................................................... 60 8.0.0 Agriculture Sector............................................................................................................ 62 8.1.0 Sector Profile ............................................................................................................... 62 8.1.1 Land and Resource Management Issues.......................................................... 63 8.2.0 Tsilhqot’in Nation Agriculture Strategy ...................................................................... 65 8.4.0 Community Level Projects in Agriculture................................................................... 69 8.4.1 ?Esdilagh Projects in Agriculture .................................................................... 69 8.4.2 Tsi Del Del Projects in Agriculture ................................................................. 71 8.4.3 Tl’esqox Projects in Agriculture...................................................................... 72 8.4.4 Xeni Gwet’in Projects in Agriculture .............................................................. 73 8.4.5 Yunesit’in Projects in Agriculture ................................................................... 75 9.0.0 Commercial Sector........................................................................................................... 76 9.1.0 Sector Profile ............................................................................................................... 76 9.2.0 Tsilhqot’in Nation Commercial Development Strategy .............................................. 76 9.3.0 Community Projects in Commercial Development ..................................................... 78 9.3.1 ?Esdilagh Projects in Commercial Development ............................................ 78 9.3.2 Tsi Del Del Projects in Commercial Development.......................................... 79 9.3.3 Tl’esqox Projects in Commercial Development.............................................. 80 9.3.4 Xeni Gwet’in Projects in Commercial Development ...................................... 81 9.3.5 Yunesit’in Projects in Commercial Development ........................................... 83 10.0.0 Mining Sector................................................................................................................. 84 10.1.0 Sector Profile ............................................................................................................. 84 10.1.1 Land and Resource Management Issues........................................................ 84 10.2.0 Tsilhqot’in Nation Mining Strategy........................................................................... 84 11.0.0 Oil and Gas Sector ......................................................................................................... 86 11.1.0 Sector Profile ............................................................................................................. 86 11.1.1 Land and Resource