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NUXALK NATION PRESS RELEASE
Head Hereditary Chief Nuximlayc on stolen timber, jobs, and support for Greenpeace's campaign
27 May 1997
"First of all we would like to acknowledge Tatau, the Creator, through Manakays, the Great Spirit, for all he has provided us since the beginning of time and still provides today."
We have not consented or treatied away our territories. estern Forest Products and Interfor are illegally logging and stealing our timber.
The forestry resources in the midcoast are all related to the and in question and to the environment. The position of the Nuxalk has always been in place, and is supported by the Nuxalk chiefs and elders.
The OKNTC (Oweekeno-Kitasoo-Nuxalk tribal council) is using [opposition to the activities of] Greenpeace for political leverage, as a bargaining chip to enhance their negotiations with the BC government and logging companies, and in the BC treaty process. The OKNTC is in no position to negotiate away our forestry rights or accept any form of terms for decision making under the BC treaty commission process.
The management of our forestry resources in the mid-coast has been corruptly and poorly managed for decades. Before we become more involved in all aspects of forestry in our territories; in planning, management and training our people in forestry, the existing management need to clean up their act first.
Jobs, which are an economic and social need, are being used as a form of legalized extortion against our people to force them to negotiate away our forestry rights.
The Nuxalk Band office council is negotiating 10,000 cu m of timber from Interfor under joint venture discussions, and intends to purchase old broken down logging equipment. This is not a very good deal for our people considering that 1,000,000 cu m is being logged from our territories every year.
Under good faith we have been demanding more sensible logging practices. Still Ista, a place sacred to our people, is being clearcut under the BC Forest Practices Code.
The work that I have done with the environmental community is apparent with Tamara Stark's quote "It is outrageous if the government is telling native Indians that the treaty process could be hurt unless they quell dissent in their territories". We have always been aware of the entrapment of the BC treaty process.
We ask you for your prayers nd support for the work that Greenpeace is doing on Roderick Island, and we support it, too.
For the future of our children, grandchildren nd those yet unborn. Nuxalk Strong! Nuxalk Forever! WAY!