The five Nicola Valley Chiefs and their representatives (Chief Harvey McLeod of Upper Nicola, Chief Marcel Shackelly of Nooaitch, Chief Aaron Sam of Lower Nicola, Chief Percy Joe of Shackan and Chief Lee Spahan of Coldwater) and supporters of Friends of the Nicola Valley, faced with inaction from the Provincial Government and its Ministries on the grave issue of importing sewer sludge into the Nicola Valley, have together decided to occupy the office of the Honourable Premier Christy Clark in West Kelowna.
“The Nicola Valley First Nations hold and exercise Aboriginal Title and Rights over areas where biowaste operations are currently being carried out, and where future biowaste operations have been proposed. The biowaste operations affect our Aboriginal Title and Rights. The Province of British Columbia is obligated to consult and accommodate us in relation to the impacts of biowaste operations on our Rights and Title”, says Chief Aaron Sam
We are unified in our mission to stop this toxic waste coming into the Nicola Valley area. We take care of our own sewage and expect other municipalities to do the same. Trucking thousands of tons of sewage treatment waste to be spread onto our farms, ranches and forests is not healthy for our lands. We stand together to safeguard the environment for future generations. The traditional practices of harvesting from our lands and waterways, has been jeopardized by this risky practice. We believe in applying the “precautionary principle” in matters such as these, where cultural ways of life are threatened and ecosystems compromised. We are requesting an immediate moratorium on all importation of these so-called “biosolids” into the Nicola Valley.
For more information please contact: Chief Aaron Sam (c.250.315.7563)
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