[ It should be noted that there are at least a couple of main factions
within aboriginal society in the Nuxalk territory which disagree on
the subject of how and whether forestry should proceed in the area.
In the past, Chief Francis Frank ("tlaoquia@mail.port.island.net"),
who is a subscriber to the NATIVE-L mailing list, has responded to
calls for support like the one below to express a view somewhat at
odds with those that call for a complete ban against forestry, on
grounds that some forestry is necessary to sustain the Native com-
munity. Perhaps Chief Frank will respond to this article in some
fashion.
NativeNet takes no position on this matter, but seeks only to help
those reading bulletins such as this one to understand that the
issues may be more complex than what is presented in articles such
as this one and that it would be good to study the situation a bit
before responding to calls for support. One source of information
on the subject is the NATIVE-L archives, which are available via the
NativeNet Web archive ("http://bioc09.uthscsa.edu/natnet/archive/nl/").
If I get time in the next couple of days, I'll construct an index of
selected articles from the archives on this subject to make it easier
for those who want to get a better understanding of the history of
the situation to do so. --Gary (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ]
Greetings from Nuxalk Territory!
Some big news! Members of FAN, Greenpeace, Peoples' Action for Threatened
Habitat (PATH), and Bear Watch have accepted the invitation of the
traditional leadership of the Nuxalk Nation to stand with them to protect
a sacred site in Nuxalk Territory. 'Ista', the site of our 1995 blockade,
is currently being clearcut logged by International Forest Products
(Interfor). At least 70 people have occupied the site, united under the
banner, "Standing Together to Protect the Great Bear Rainforest". We are
anticipating some excitement sometime this weekend...we'll keep you
updated!
For more information, please see the news release that follows.
Also, please don't hesitate to write with questions, comments, or words of
encouragement for the folks (in the rain) on the front lines.
Be well,
Dayna @ FAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release
ENVIRONMENTALISTS STAND WITH NUXALK NATION TO
PROTECT THE GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST
(BELLA COOLA, British Columbia) Friday, 6 June, 1997 -- Today four
environmental groups joined people of the Nuxalk Nation in blockading
International Forest Products' logging operations on Ista, a rainforest
valley sacred to the Nuxalk people. Today's activities follow yesterday's
protest by the Nuxalk hereditary chiefs and people, at which time
hereditary head chief Lawrence Pootlass invited environmentalists to stand
with the Nuxalk to protect the rainforest.
Since dawn this morning, Nuxalk people, members of the Forest Action
Network, Greenpeace, Bear Watch and PATH (approximately 70 people in
total) have been blockading the main logging road under a banner which
reads "Standing Together to Protect the Great Bear Rainforest". The road
is the only access point to all road building and clearcutting operations
in the valley.
"When they clearcut our ancient rainforests they clearcut the Nuxalk
culture. As they clearcut Ista, which is sacred to the Nuxalk, they are
clearcutting our history," said hereditary head chief Lawrence Pootlass.
"We acknowledge and respect the commitment of these four environmental
groups to protecting the ancient rainforests. We have extended an official
invitation to these groups by way of a protocol (1)."
Interfor has already clearcut three cutblocks this year at Ista and plans
to clear 11 more areas in the next three years.
"It is only by people joining together that we have a chance to protect
the last of the world's temperate rainforest," said Tamara Stark of
Greenpeace. "If we stand by now, if our voices remain silent, within a
decade there will be little rainforest left to fight for."
"Today's protest illustrates that a growing number of groups are refusing
to accept Interfor's destruction of the rainforest and their complete
disrespect for the wishes of the Nuxalk people," said Gavin Edwards of the
Forest Action Network.
In 1994, the elected Band Council asked Interfor to stop clearcutting on
Nuxalk land and in 1995 the hereditary head chief asked them not to
clearcut the sacred rainforests of Ista. Interfor refused and 21 people
were subsequently arrested for trying to protect these lands.
International Forest Products is the second largest company logging the
rainforest, and have licenses to log the largest number of intact
rainforest valleys on the coast. Approximately half these valleys will be
roaded or logged within five years.
The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest contiguous unprotected rainforest
in British Columbia and is a forest of global ecological significance.
Satellite mapping recently carried out by the World Resources Institute
shows that half of the world's temperate rainforest has already been
destroyed and that temperate rainforests are more endangered than tropical
rainforests.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Members of the environmental groups and the Nuxalk Nation on site,
via the Greenpeace ship the Moby Dick: 011-872-624-628-410
Greg Higgs, Forest Action Network: 250-799-5800
Dayna Chapman, Forest Action Network: <fanbc@envirolink.org>
Tzeporah Berman, Greenpeace: 604-253-7701
Nuxalk Nation House of Smayusta: 250-799-5376
PHOTO AND VIDEO FOOTAGE AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING:
Mary MacNutt: 604-253-7701; 416-505-1792
Note: (1) Copies of the Nuxalk/environmental group protocol
available upon request.
(2) Logistical support provided by the environmental aviation
group, Lighthawk.
-----------------------------------------------------
F O R E S T A C T I O N N E T W O R K
Box 625, Bella Coola BC, Canada, V0T 1C0
TEL (250) 799-5800
FAX (250) 799-5830
EMAIL fanbc@envirolink.org
http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/fan/
CAMPAIGNING TO SAVE THE GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST
-----------------------------------------------------
(mail sent to fan@alternatives.com is now forwarded to
fanbc@envirolink.org)
-----------------------------
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email: nfnena@igc.apc.org