Members of the Okanagan Indian Band, and the Upper Nicola Band are blocking Tolko workers from commencing logging operations at the Brown's Creek Watershed.Last night, approximately 25 members, including Chief Fabian Alexis, Chief Tim Manuel and Grand Chief Stewart Philip arrived at Brown's Creek.Tolko Industries have issued a release saying they will be going ahead with the harvesting of trees in the area.Company Officials say that delaying the logging operation any further would be irresponsible.Brown's Creek has been the focus of a land claim issue between the Okanagan Indian Band and the province for over two years.
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Tolko Industries says it's moving forward with logging in the Brown's Creek area west of Vernon, despite an unresolved court dispute involving the province and Okanagan Indian Band.Regional manager Jim Baskerville says the Vernon based company delayed activities for over 28 months in recognition of the area's importance to the band.He says the impact of the mountain pine beetle epidemic and Tolko's investment in the area make further delays irresponsible as the impacted trees will decline without recoverable value, the wildfire risk will grow, and the reforestation will be delayed. Brown's Creek has been the focus of a land claim issue between the band and the province since 1999.
About 27-thousand hectares of the area lies within Tolko's Tree Farm License.Tolko's regional Okanagan Woodlands Manager Mark Tamas adds, "We have long and valued relationships with First Nation communities."Having discussed forest management of this particular area with the OKIB over the past ten years, I think we both understand and respect each other's concerns and will continue to strive to work co-operatively."There's been no comment as yet from the Okanagan Indian Band.
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