Province accused of dragging its heels

Province accused of dragging its heels

The Adams Lake Indian Band says it’s not against the development of Sun Peaks Resort, but it insists on being consulted on the incorporation of the area as a municipality. It has been six weeks since the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that the province had failed to fulfill its duty to consult and accommodate the Adams Lake Indian Band (a member of the Secwepemc Nation) with respect to the incorporation of the Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, said Chief Nelson Leon, and Adams Lake is still waiting for the province to come to the negotiation table.

On March 4, the court ordered the province to consult with the Adams Lake Indian Band on the impacts of the incorporation to their rights and title. Deep consultation was the medicine the court ordered to ensure that the Adams Lake Band would not get sidelined by stakeholders while the municipality continues to do business and make decisions affecting the band’s traditional territory, said Leon.

He said Adams Lake is wondering whether the province has any intention of ever seriously addressing the band’s concerns, which have been historically ignored in the creation of the Sun Peaks ski resort, and now in its development and the creation of the Village.

On top of this, the province has decided to appeal the decision and challenge the ruling, said Leon, showing that it is ready to fight rather than to work with the First Nations to find a common future at Sun Peaks.

“Adams Lake Indian Band is extremely disappointed with the decision of the province to file for appeal,” Leon said, adding the decision shows that rather than finding a way to move forward together, the decision to appeal displays the attitude that got the province into this mess in the first place.

“The province has ignored our concerns about the incorporation of Sun Peaks from day one”, said the chief, “and now the province is shirking from its responsibilities handed down from the court to work with Adams Lake to find a common future with the Municipality at Sun Peaks.” Adams Lake has said from the outset that we are not against development, confirmed Chief Leon, “but we want to be at the table, we want to be part of moving forward and to ensure the protection of our land, our rights and our culture. Now that the justice system has finally given Adams Lake Band the chance to be at the table, the province turns and walks away.

“What message does this send to the world? That our First Nation has no place in the future at Sun Peaks, that the province does not have to follow BC Supreme Court orders? That can’t be right.”

The chief said the Adams Lake band is frustrated that when the law favors “and orders us to work together to achieve reconciliation at Sun Peaks, the province turns the other way.”