The killing of wildlife on Skwl膩x te Secwepemc煤lecw band land has forced Kukpi7 (Chief) James Tomma害羞草研究所檚 hand in keeping unauthorized mushroom pickers out of the already fragile area.
The 2023 Bush Creek East wildfire resulted in an influx of morel mushrooms this spring. The band said the valuable fungi have attracted 害羞草研究所渉undreds害羞草研究所� of pickers who don害羞草研究所檛 always respect the still recovering land.
Tomma explained the band has been having problems with trespassers leaving garbage behind, having fires, setting up permanent camps and cutting trees. Slain wildlife, however, was the final straw.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e getting people that feel that they害羞草研究所檙e entitled and have a right to be there, but with that, they害羞草研究所檙e not doing their due diligence or responsibilities害羞草研究所� and sadly we害羞草研究所檙e seeing some animals being killed,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hether that害羞草研究所檚 mushroom pickers or not, the fact is when we find dead does and fawns and bears being shot for no particular reason is quite disheartening.害羞草研究所�
Tomma said photos have been submitted to BC Conservation, but until someone is actually caught in the act, they can害羞草研究所檛 know who害羞草研究所檚 responsible. The band害羞草研究所檚 Territorial Resource Stewardship (TRS) department confirmed that in addition to a dead deer they害羞草研究所檇 found, two bears had also been killed and 害羞草研究所渢here was two people bragging about doing it to buyers害羞草研究所� on the may long weekend.
Tomma said the band will now be putting up a gate on Scotch Creek Forest Service Road to block public access, which he expected to be in place a day or two after talking to the Observer on May 29, with a permit system to be implemented the following week.
In early May, the band had requested assistance from the province, but that has been 害羞草研究所渓imited.害羞草研究所� Tomma has been speaking with Assistant Deputy Minister Jamie Jeffreys, adding 害羞草研究所渟he害羞草研究所檚 actually in my chambers now talking to some of my Guardians [of the Land].害羞草研究所�
Skwl膩x is not only working to keep people out because of the disrespect being shown, but also environmental protection as the area, Tomma said, is still in a state of emergency and more vulnerable since the fires.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 something that we and the rest of the public have to understand and do to help Mother Nature recover,害羞草研究所� he said, adding that the things being done are 害羞草研究所渏ust not conducive to recovery.害羞草研究所�
There is also the concern of safety, not only for band members that have been threatened with violence, but also the pickers themselves, with one having had to be rescued by the RCMP and search and rescue after getting lost near Adams Lake.
害羞草研究所淪ome of these people, these weekend warriors害羞草研究所� go in there just totally unprepared. And there害羞草研究所檚 been a few situations where people had to be helped out by some of the locals because they害羞草研究所檙e just not equipped or understand the danger that is posed out there害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶟 Tomma pointed out. 害羞草研究所淭hey not only put themselves in danger, but also the kind people that end up helping them if something happens to them. And they take away resources that should be put to use in better places.害羞草研究所�
He added that while the threat against his band members hasn害羞草研究所檛 yet escalated to actual violence, 害羞草研究所渢he potential for it is always there.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淪o there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of reasons behind me putting a gate up, and if I don害羞草研究所檛 get the help from the province害羞草研究所� I have no choice but to lock it. I just hope that all the locals are understanding that what we害羞草研究所檙e doing here is to protest of to have a confrontation, it害羞草研究所檚 all for the protection of the land, because as First Nations people, we害羞草研究所檙e the original stewards of the land and we害羞草研究所檙e going to exercise that now.害羞草研究所�
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