nemiah declaration as law and recreation sites authorized on

253 Fourth Avenue North, Williams Lake, British Columbia, V2G 4T4, Phone: (250) 392-3918 FAX (250) 398-5798

On March 19th the Tsilhqot’in Chiefs, on Title lands, enacted the Nemiah Declara-

tion as law within the Title and larger Rights Area. This was a special day with the

Tsilhqot’in leadership surrounded by Elders during the signing ceremony. The

Nemiah Declaration can be viewed in English and Tsilhqot’in on the TNG

webpage at tsilhqotin.ca/About/Governance.htm.

Throughout the phase of transitioning the Title Area to Tsilhqot’in management

and control, there are certain things that will be authorized under previous manage-

ment in order to bring stability to the Title Area. The opening of eight recreation

sites within the Title Area is an example of this. They have been authorized to open

with six of the recreation sites under Xeni Gwet’in management.

March/April 2015 Benen ?Eghutelog (March) The Month of melting snow Benen Ne?ed I lh (April) The Month the birds come back

Executive Director 2

Communications 3

Finance 4

Health 5-8

Employment 9

TUS 16-11

Fisheries 12-14

Stewardship 15-23

Title Newsletter 25-26

Inside this issue:

Keeping Our Communities Informed

Nemiah Declaration as Law and Recreation Sites Authorized on Title Land

Tsilhqot’in Chiefs with Elders enact the Nemiah

Declaration as law in the declared Title and Rights Area.

On March 31, 2015 the

Tsilhqot'in Nation

showed support for the

Wilderness Committee

during closing arguments

of the defamation law

suit filed by Taseko

Mines Limited.


Hello Everyone! March and April flew by and although it is spring, my next update I will already be saying its summer. I have been fortunate to be present for a number of events over the last few months. On March 12, 2015 the Tsilhqot’in Chiefs met with Minister’s Rustad, Pollack and Rickford to discuss the overall next steps for the Title Areas and the Tsilhqot’in Territory. Near the end of March it was decided between both the Provincial government and the Tsilhqot’in Government to extend the ‘talks’ until June 26, 2015, the anniversary date of the Title Declaration. Although it may seem we are not working fast enough, we are definitely moving as fast as we can. By the end of May/early June the Chiefs and Tsilhqot’in Support Team will be travelling to communities to receive advice and feedback on a DRAFT agreement that would be signed closer to June 26, 2015. The agreement is developed in a way to enable healthy community participation over the next few years in developing a longer term reconciliation agreement. Much time would be focused on establishing capacity in the communities through workshops and strategically planning how the members want to see our programs managed. This will be quite an undertaking. Whew...the meetings!!!! On March 303, 2015 the Chiefs met with Mary Ellen Trupel Lafond (Representative for Children and Youth) which is the oversight body of Children and Families and they also met with the First Nations Leadership Executive. On Apri 14, 2015 the Chifs were invited to meet with the Assembly of First Nations Executive group which comprises the National Chief and each Provincial Regional Chief. That evening our leaders met with Tsilhqot’in members to do a Title Update in Vancouver. The members expressed their gratitude in being included. Their rarely has been a week that I haven’t been traveling, either with the TNG Support team or with the Chiefs. We were honored to host the Alaska delegation for a one hour meeting with the Chiefs. Further meetings and alliances will be discussed. As well from May 10-13, 2015 the Chiefs will be meeting with the Yukon First Nations in Whitehorse and surrounding area. I am looking forward to summer to spend some time getting grounded in my garden and biking with my husband. I can’t wait to attend the community culture camps this year and spend time with everyone. This April 8, 2015 marked the six years that I have been with the Executive Director for the TNG. I have been working for the TNG overall for nine (9) years. I can say that I have witnessed in nine years dramatic growth in all of our communities and at the Nation level. I am proud to be working for the Tsilhqot’in and I am proud to be connected as an ?Esdilagh member back to my roots. This has been a rewarding nine years. Sechanalyah everyone!

A Message from the Executive Director

Crystal Verhaeghe:

Executive Director

[email protected]


Dzinas gu?en (afternoon) everyone. Throughout the Winter and Spring my

position as communication coordinator remains reallocated to focus in

implementing the Title Decision and work closely with the Tsilhqot’in Chiefs.

On page 25 and 26 you will find two Title Case Newsletters that were published

during March and April 2015. If you would like to be on the email list to receive

these, please email me at [email protected]. TNG has also recently started a

Facebook page. Like us on Facebook under the name “Tsilhqot’in National

Government.”

My time has also been taken up as the TNG works through negotiations with BC

on implementing Title as well as working through an agreement for the entire

Tsilhqot’in territory. This is an interesting time as transitioning the Title land to

Tsilhqot’in management and control rolls out, as well as other projects begin on the

territory. An exciting project is the placing mileage signs along Highway 20 with

community names and kilometres.

Coordinating speaking engagements between the Chiefs and different First

Nations, non-profit organizations and businesses continues. When these speaking

engagement are open to the public, I will make sure a notice is on the Facebook

page and sent out on the email list serve.

Myanna Desaulniers: Com-

munication Coordinator

M.A Communication

[email protected]

Title Implementation and Communication


A Message from Finance

It looks like Spring is here to stay! I recently returned from a visit to see kids and grand-kids – it was a most enjoyable time.

This is one of the busiest times of the year in the finance department. We are finalizing budgets, working on the year-end for our yearly audit and completing other year end reports required for various funders and organizations.

I never sit around bored with nothing to do – that’s for sure!

Hope you are all having a great Spring. I have started work in my greenhouse; it is always great to play in the dirt.

Betty Derksen: Finance

Officer—Office Manager

[email protected]

Hello, Happy Spring, even with a bit of snow. Since I have started my position, I have being very busy. As previously mentioned my main job duties entail accounts payables, accounts receivable, and other administrative duties. Besides my work I was able to take training , so back in March, Danna Gilpin, Sherry Stump and I

participated in the Indian Registry Reporting training in Kamloops, it was a very intense course but it was worth it. There were over 30 participants from all over BC that took the training. I will now be able to assist the Daana Gilpin with status cards on Fridays at the TNG office. I am currently assisting with year-end and looking forward to future events like the OASIS in Tsi Deldel

and the Aboriginal Day event.

Financial Administrative Assistant

Tracy Lulua Gilpin Finance Assistant [email protected]


It is such an exciting time of year and we have a lot going on in Health. The Hub

Committee is working hard to ensure that all communities have the same opportunity

for services regardless of the size of the community.

Mental Health Clinicians are now available in all communities at least two days per

month. Some communities have one day per week. Physiotherapists are also working

in the communities and helping with health prevention.

A garden specialist will be coming soon to communities to help communities enhance

their current gardens or start up new ones.

An elders home feasibility study is also in the works. Elders will be interviewed and

asked what they would want in an elders home.

A Traditional Wellness Coordinator will be hired at the Nation level to develop a plan

on how we can incorporate traditional medicines and healers into our current health

plans.

We have hired a dental assistant to do education in schools, headstart and daycare on

caring for their teeth. She will be visiting each of our communities.

Electronic Data systems are currently being investigated to find out what system will

work in our Nation. This will allow all the health professionals to be linked together.

Thank you to the Health Hub Committee that continues to support their

communities to ensure that we have the best services available to our

community members.

Crisis Response Training will be held in May and July of 2015. The

purpose of the training will be to train a number of people who can be part

of a response team that will respond to communities when there is a critical

incident. Suicide Training will also be available so that communities can

prevent suicides and respond appropriately.

We held an HIV Aids awareness workshop for youth on April 15th. It was

attended by approximately 50 youth. There were two HIV survivors there

to tell their stories. Trevor Mack will making a YouTube Video from

footage he took during that event.

Our second annual Nation Walk/Run Event will take place in Tl’esqox

(Toosey) on June 16, 2015. There will be a 5 km walk, 5 km run, 10 km

walk and 10 km run. It is free to attend and prizes will be given to all

participants. There is also be a competitive component for the runners of

the 5 km and 10 kms. Thanks to Gina Johnny from Tl’esqox who will be

co hosting this event with the TNG Health Committee.

Wishing everyone good health and remember that being healthy is our own

responsibility .

Health: Traditional Wellness and Physio!

Connie Jasper: Health Hub

Coordinator

[email protected]


For More Information please contact your Health Stations or call Connie Jasper @ 250 392-3918

When: June 16, 2015

Where: Tl’esqox (Toosey)

Start Time: 10:00 (Staggered Start)

2nd Annual

Tsilhqot’in Nation—Walk Run Event

5 or 10 Kms

CATEGORY

PRIZES

10 Km walkers will start at 10:00 am

10 Km runners will start at 10:30 am

5 Km walkers/runners start at 10:30 am

Water Stations

and Health

snacks

Lunch

Provided

Registration is required. Forms are available at Health Stations or TNG

Sponsored by First Nations Health Authority


Tanya Mores, BSW Mental Health Navigator [email protected]

Mental Health: Healing

March was a busy month for me as the Mental

Health Navigator; I attended a few workshops such

as Trauma Informed Practice, Dementia Caregivers

Workshop and of course the Tradition-

al/Alternative Wellness Symposium hosted by

TNG.

Anyone who is interested in any of the workshop

materials, please let me (Tanya Mores, Mental

Health Navigator) know and I will email it to you.

If you do not have an email address, we can figure

out a way to get it to you.

Photos from March 24/25 Traditional Wellness Days


On March 24 & 25, 2015, TNG hosted the Traditional/Alternative Wellness

Symposium, held at the Riske Creek Old School in Tl’esqox. Tsilhqot’in National

Government Health’s vision was to bring the Tsilhqot’in Nation together to

reconnect with each other and give individuals an opportunity to experience

practitioners who provide services from a Traditional/Alternative Wellness &

Medicine framework.

The goal was to have a wide range of health care practices, products, and therapies available in one area. The services included new and traditional service practices such as Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Physiotherapy, Energy Medicine, various forms of Traditional First Nation Medicine, along with Reiki, Tarot Card readings, Astrology readings, Pilates, Touch For Health and a Zyto Machine.

In addition, a sweat lodge was constructed and available for men and women to participate in a traditional sweat. More booths were set up around the gym that offered hairstyling, nail painting, native art work, educational material on health, a nurse providing blood pressure readings and educational pamphlets.

During the two day event, we had different Key Note Speakers. Day One, Joanna Haines spoke about all the women healers in her community and surrounding area. Day Two, Norm Pratt from Nelson, BC talked about his life as an intuitive healer, and at lunch we had Joan Gentles tell stories about her life.

The event was successful and everyone who attended had a great time. Thanks to the organizing committee and all those that attended for a wonderful two days.

Traditional/Alternative Wellness Symposium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturopathy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_medicine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine


Employment Assistant Services

Community Visit Schedule

May 2015

Tuesday May 12th – Yunesit’in (Stone)

Thursday May 14th – Tsi Deldel (Redstone)

Tuesday May 19th – Tl’etinqox (Anaham)

Tuesday May 26th - ?Esdilagh (Alexandria), (Tentative)

Wednesday May 27th – Xeni Gwet’in First Nations (Nemiah)

Thursday May 28th – Tl’esqox (Toosey)

Thank you,

Daana Gilpin

Employment Assistant Services

Daana Gilpin Employment Coordinator [email protected]


The Traditional Use Study has been going well. Geraldine and Shane have been

busy with interviews for the past few weeks and have been able to document a lot

of important knowledge. But we still have a lot of work to do, so please keep us in

mind and give us a call at the TNG office if you or someone you know wishes to

be interviewed. We’re now interviewing any Tsilhqot’in person with knowledge of

the territory, culture, language, traditions, and/or history.

We have received funding through BC Capacity Initiative to continue doing inter-

views for another year, which will not only allow us to do more interviews, but it

will also allow us to process the interview recordings for use in educational

programs. This is a very important and very exciting time for the Nation.

Traditional Use Study Project

Shane Doddridge, B.A.

TUS-GIS

[email protected]

Geraldine Charleyboy

TUS

[email protected]

Healer Cecil Grinder and Elder Melanie Bobby at

Traditional Wellness Workshop on March 24, 2015


Stories on Tape

Brooke Albers

Digitization Tech.

[email protected]

On a more personal note, on April 23rd I had the opportunity to hitch a ride with Daana Gilpin and Sherry

Stump on their trip out to Xeni Gwet’in. Margaret Lulua, Susie Lulua, and Wayne Lulua took time out of

their day to take a few of us TNG employees out to some of the most amazing places I have ever seen.

Highlights included the beautiful wild horses, a delicious meal prepared by culinary arts students, informal

language lessons from Wayne Lulua, visiting the traditional campsite, and a couple of very fuzzy bear cubs

- one the colour of honey. I didn’t point at anything, just in case.

I had never been in the Chilcotin until this past fall; it is such a special, unique place and I appreciate

having the opportunity to learn its history from Tsilhqot’in community members- both recorded and in

person. Whenever possible I think it’s important to say that I

promise to continue to respect the knowledge shared on the

TUS tapes by honouring the confidentiality agreement that was

signed before the digitization project began. I thank all

communities for your trust; I am so fortunate to be able to

help with this project.

Happy Spring everyone!

In January TNG purchased a second set of digitization equipment for transferring

cassette tape audio from the 1999-2001 Traditional Use Study into WAV and MP3

audio files. Digital audio files are ideal for a number of reasons:

They are easy to back up and protect;

They may be audio-engineered to improve sound quality; and

Language and cultural education resources may, with permission, be created by

extracting ‘clips’ from full interviews.

Well over half of the compact cassettes are now digitized. Due to the lower quality

of many of the tapes (background hiss and buzz) I have been researching noise

reduction equipment in hopes that some of the semi-inaudible tapes may be

repaired. Without specialized equipment it is not possible to remove tape hiss

without also reducing the quality of voices significantly. The TUS team has applied

for a grant through the University of British Columbia requesting funds to purchase

an audio repair tool called RX4 Advanced by Izotope. It is very exciting to imagine

the possibilities for regaining some of the lost audio and improving the quality of

older tapes which have degraded over time. In particular, the 66 older recordings

(1960s and later) still on order from the Royal BC Museum may be engineered to a

higher quality.

On the Shore of Chilko Lake

Wildhorse


Tsilhqot’in Nation Government Fisheries Update by Paul Grinder (Fisheries

coordinator)

Commercial Fisheries Enterprise (CFE)

This is an inland commercial fisheries opportunity…..meaning that fish can only be

caught and sold when they enter their home stream. An example of this would be

the Chilko run. This way, only Chilko river fish will be caught in the Chilko/

Chilcotin river. This will hopefully allow for other streams along the Fraser to

rebound from the continuing downfall of their stocks. This takes away from

commercial fisheries in the lower areas (ocean) where all fish stocks travelling

together will be caught as an aggregate (different salmon stocks grouped together

due to their similar travel timing). This is a factor whether the stocks being caught

are low in numbers travelling with stocks that are high in numbers.

Meeting are continuing to discuss ways of advancing the company and ways of

distributing the finished salmon products, and making business connection with

other first nation groups that are also in this process. We are waiting to hear on

funding distribution for the 2015 season. Follow up meeting will be held in the

future prior to fishing season to discuss the direction TNG and CFE will move

toward. A fish wheel, located below Alexis Creek Bridge, was utilized last season and

will be again this year. Improvements on the fish wheel will be ongoing.

Site Checks

We have been doing fishing site checks along the Chilko/Chilcotin rivers. Annual

checks are necessary to avoid any unneeded accidents occurring from faulty dip

stands. The CFE Site, below Alexis Creek bridge, will again be utilized and potential

upgrading may be required. This site, along with other potential site(s) will be

utilized for catching salmon that will be sold on the open market in conjunction with

the Upper Fraser Fishery organization. We have also been doing site checks to

determine the fishing effort on local Steelhead fishing effort. Fishing has been

opened up to all areas due to the quick melt of the river ice.

Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFFC)

April 23/ 2015 Randy and I will be the next UFFCA general meeting, to be held in

Quesnel. The Taseko stocks (Sockeye, Chinook) are still identified as a priority for

the Upper Fraser tribes. Fishery issues from the previous and upcoming summer are

continuing to being discussed through the IFMP (Integrated Fisheries Management

Plan), and the failing Early Stuart run is a constant reminder we must also address as

a priority, to avoid having any other stocks drifting into the same danger area. This

working group is comprised of the majority of the upper Fraser First Nation groups

and DFO.

Fisheries February/March Update

Paul Grinder: Fisheries

Coordinator

[email protected]


Fisheries Continued

Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy (AFS)

We are in the process of finishing off this past year’s budget and preparing for the

2015/16 season. As that is completed, we will be informing the communities of

the budget, and how we will be managing our program. This information will be

sent via e-mail and newsletters and Chief’s meetings. We are starting early as to

have the agreement in place, and have our finance up to speed on our program

prior to fishing season. This will allow us to continue our program and have

better success of our fisheries. Having a multi-year agreement makes financial

transitions easier for the upcoming years, where we do not have to wait for

funding dollars.

Chinook Issues

Chinook issues have been an ongoing discussion. The decline in Chinook numbers throughout the Fraser

watershed is an ongoing topic. Continued meetings and discussions with other groups on the Fraser and

approach groups (Vancouver Island) are ongoing. Request have been placed forth through letters to the

government to continue funding the Chinook tagging program at Chilko Lake. Added to this, we have a

work plan in place to continue a monitoring program for the Taseko stock. Due to the coloration of the

water, and the inability to visually count the salmon travelling through this water, a DIDSON (Duel-

frequency Identification Sonar) will be utilized on this system. We will be making efforts to monitor the

number of Sockeye and Chinook salmon that enter this system through our AFS agreement, with in kind

assistance from biologists who work for the UFFCA organization to off-set the costs of doing this project.

We will also be assisted by DFO technicians who have had many years of experience on DIDSON (Duel-

frequency Identification Sonar). The Taseko (Chinook, Sockeye) run is lumped in with the Chilko stock as

being one. When the Chilko stock is doing fine, the outlook states the same for Taseko, but when in reality

the stock may not be doing well. We have been working to have the Taseko stock recognized as its’ own

stock away from the Chilko. We will be working on the timing of the stock, along with the timing of the

migrating salmon. With more knowledge will help to increase the numbers associated with this stock. Our

initial work will begin at the end of April with a site visit to determine a second location for placement of

the DIDSON.

Dates

Smolt program will be starting April 8/2015, and Gerald William and Leonard English will be working the

duration of this project. Due to an early melt, the crew was unable to put up a smolt fence due to high

water. A RST (Rotary Screw Trap) is being utilized to get counts on the smolts migrating back to the

ocean. The crew will be working till approximately the middle of May, for anyone interested in viewing the

process.


More Fisheries from Randy Billyboy

Randy Billyboy:

Fisheries Guardian

[email protected]

April 2—Mining Coordinator met with the Working Group and TNG Chiefs

regarding the Mount Polley disaster to discuss what will be happening in the

coming future. A basic plan will be happening on Hazeltine Creek, Quesnel Lake

and Quesnel River. Nothing will be done along the Fraser or Chilko River

regarding salmon concerns.

April 7— Randy delivered 149 cases of canned wild sockeye for the community

of ?Esdilagh. These were provided by Soda Creek Indian Band and Williams

Lake Indian Band as part of their Mount Polley spill response activities. They

were dropped off with Norma Jean Stump at Carrier Chilcotin Tribal Office for

storage.

April 14—Randy met with Cynthia Fell, Fisheries Biologist, in Williams Lake to

discuss fisheries research opportunities with the Tsilhqot’in Nation.

April 20—Councillor Marilyn Baptiste of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation received

the North American Goldman Environmental Prize. There are only six recipients

around the world. The Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony was held at the

San Francisco War Memorial Opera House on April 20, 2015 and was followed by

a ceremony in Washington DC on April 22nd. Her fight to protect Textan Biny,

Fish Lake, and direct action against Taseko Mines Ltd was a very big part in her

winning this award. It’s awesome to see our own First Nations; Tsilhqot’in and

Xeni Gwet’in to get such recognition across the world for the work and fight she

has and is still doing.

April 24—A Taseko River site visit was done to check out the low water and

possibly find a safe crossing location near the site so we can get the didson to both

banks.

Rotary Smolt Trap Chilko Lake


Stewardship Manager: March and April Highlights

Luke Doxtator: Steward-

ship Department Manager

[email protected]

In March I was able to complete staff evaluations, it was a task that was time con-suming but it is a way to provide positive feedback to our staff and see where im-provements can be made.

The Traditional Use Study (TUS) project has been gaining quite the momentum and the staff has been busy prepping for and conducting interviews. Please look for their update in the newsletter.

We have also been recommended for phase two for the British Columbia Capacity Initiative (BCCI) program. Our application was for $200,000 to continue on with the TUS project and digitization of all the interviews that were on original cassette tapes. We are very pleased that AANDC recognizes the importance of this and we are thrilled to continue this project.

We have created a template for the referral workers to monitor and evaluate the cutting permits for an internal audit of the cut blocks within the South Chilcotin Planning Area. Shawn Meisner, a Registered Professional Forester, was contracted for a week and assisted in the creation and the referral workers will be making field visits in early May to apply their skills on the new system. Once they are familiar, they will be taking community members out on field visits to show the changes in logging practices and how our recommendations are being put into action on the land.

I have prepared the annual projected budgets for the budget meeting set for May

15th. The Chiefs will review them and make their recommendations on the budgets

at that time.

I was able to attend a two day ‘Negotiation Training’ workshop at TRU put on by

the Banff Center. It was an interesting workshop and the tools offered were very

helpful.

The Tsilhqot’in Stewardship Council (TSC) and Joint Resource Council (JRC) meetings were held in Tsi Del Del in March which I had to miss due to conflicting meetings, and April’s meeting was in Tl’esqox. We talked about the Williams Lake Timber Supply Review which was just released. We are developing a template on how to monitor this as well. Much work is needed to ensure that the amount of “Green” wood coming out of the territory is monitored quite closely. We should have an example by May and will bring to the TSC meeting.


Happy Spring everyone!

The GIS department is bursting at the seams temporarily, as Sarah, Mary and Shane

are joined by a BCIT practicum student, James Villeneuve, on board at TNG for 9

weeks. He is gaining work experience while we benefit from extra hands on deck to

work through various projects. We are glad to have him here even if it makes Mary’s

and Sarah’s combined office even squishier than normal! Look for more information

from James on the next page.

Some of the projects underway within GIS include:

Title Signage Map. Mary is working on a map to be incorporated on interim signs

that will be erected at the various entrances into Title Land. The map and sign(s) will

be about 4’ wide x 8’ tall, and aim to make travelers aware of where the Title Land is

located, and to be respectful when within it. This project presents new challenges, as

there are data quality misalignments between the various datasets being included on

the map, and we want to ensure that these permanent markers not only look nice, but

are in the right place. Needless to say this is one of the largest maps Mary has ever

worked on, so check-plots are more than a little intimidating!

Trapline Boundaries. Speaking of data quality issues, Mary has been looking into

provincial trapline boundaries and how the current boundaries differ from historical

ones. Over the years the spatial accuracy of the province’s various traplines has been

“improved” by using better quality data… but TNG still has an older version of the

Xeni trapline edge that needs to be updated to follow the physical features it is

supposed to follow. Sorting that out is a bit of a headache but also an interesting

challenge… Stay tuned and look closely on the next map you come across and you

just might see what we’re talking about.

Emergency Preparedness. House and building locations have been identified

within the 6 Tsilhqot’in communities and maps have been prepared to accompany

updated Emergency Plans that Xeni Gwet’in, Tl’esqox, ?Esdilagh, Yunesit’in and Tsi

del del have been working on. The Emergency Preparedness projects wrapped up

mid-April, and although we hope the documents and information won’t ever be

required, in case there’s a disaster, everyone will be better prepared to assist. Sarah

was also able to include hydrant locations, evacuation routes, and key emergency

service locations on many of the maps. Working with community contacts, she has

also updated lists of residents for each community, with age-categories (Youth /

adult / elder) that could be valuable when determining who needs assistance

evacuating. These lists remain internal and will not be shared with outside

organizations. Digital housing and building data could also be a good starting point

to help the communities track housing repairs, or pursue 9-1-1 services.

Stewardship: GIS Department: Signs and Boundaries

Mary Thurow and Sarah Gash

GIS Analysts

[email protected]

[email protected]


More from the GIS Department

South Chilcotin. The South Chilcotin project is being revitalized, and if the last project is any indication,

there will be much mapping work required with this project. Sarah has been busy adding data to one of our

GIS laptops for live-mapping-without-needing-the-internet-or-server-access. This way one of us can

participate in the community meetings and hopefully use maps to clarify questions live.

Alexis Creek Interview Digitization. The GIS Team has begun digitizing the mylars (clear maps with

handdrawn information) generated from Alexis Creek’s 2014-2015 Land Use interviews. Tsi Deldel is

searching for funding to complete this digitizing but we are doing what we can in the meantime.

TUS Elder Interviews. The 2014-2015 BC Capacity funding finished up March 31st, 2015, and already the

year end number crunching has been completed and the final report (not due until May 31st) is almost

complete. Amazingly, we have already received word that our 2015-2016 BCCI proposal has been

recommended for Phase 2, so we are very excited to be able to conduct additional elder interviews over the

coming fiscal year! Geraldine Charleyboy and Shane Doddridge will be staying on for at least another year to

continue gathering new information, while Brooke Albers will continue working with old cassette tapes, and

hopefully can begin working with the audio recordings Shane and Geraldine are collecting. The upcoming BC

Capacity Project will also enable upgrades to the TNG Portal; namely improvements to the mapping agent.

It’s great to know so quickly that our funding proposal was accepted!

New Kid on the Block

Hello, my name is James Villeneuve. I am a British Columbia Institute of

Technology (BCIT) student currently undergoing a GIS practicum with the

TNG. From April 20th through to June 19th you will find me at the office

working with Mary Thurow and Sarah Gash. I am a Vancouver Islander - I grew

up in Sidney on the Southern tip, although I spent much of my life on the

Northern end in Port Hardy. I completed my Bachelor’s Degree at the

University of Victoria in 2013, with a focus on Anthropology and Geography of

the Pacific Northwest. In the midst of all that learning, I managed to get out and

see a fair bit of the world. My other hobbies include music, cooking, and sports (Go Canucks). My interest in

mapping, spatial data, and technology led me into the world of GIS. I soon began the Advanced Diploma in

GIS program at BCIT in Burnaby.

I’m excited and fortunate to be a part of the TNG, in my first week I was able to visit Tl’esqox and Xeni

Gwet’in, including a trip down to the beautiful Chilko Lake. For my practicum, I will be working on various

projects, including some digitizing work, as well as creating annotation for Tsilhqot’in Place names. I’m

looking forward to the coming weeks here in the office, as well as the opportunity to get out and explore the

surrounding area!


Referrals from 2007 to 2014

A referral is a proposed land use. Below you will see how many proposals we have received over

the years.

22

174

249

309

286

308

316

287

18

53

27

83

37

35

24

27

18

71

98

181

218

253

174

203

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

2007 (since Oct 17th)

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

# of Referrals Received # of Users Added Total # of Users

TNG Portal - Annual individual referrals and users since 2007


Teztan Biny (Fish Lake)

We have heard that any day now we’ll be hearing from the courts deciding whether

they will allow Taseko Mines Ltd. (TML) to change their two judicial reviews (one

against the Panel, one against the federal decision) into one full trial. I will keep you

posted!

I also attended the Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony in San Francisco where

Xeni Gwet’in Councillor, Marilyn Baptiste, was awarded the prize for North

America. This was a very special day at San Francisco Opera House. Robert

Redford even narrated the video. You can find more on their website.

www.goldmanprize.org

Mount Polley

We continue to push for more monitoring and follow-up from the Mt. Polley

disaster, in particular on the potential downstream impacts to the Fraser River

species and habitat and the Quesnel River salmon runs. We’ve presented a proposal

to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to do salmon

and sturgeon testing.

We also applied to the First Nations Health Authority to conduct a Health Impact

Assessment in all six Tsilhqot’in communities.

Amarc

Amarc Resources is proposing to drill exploratory holes in the Upper Taseko region,

near Granite Creek. TNG is actively working with Xeni Gwet’in and Yunesit’in to

respond to this referral. Please see your Referral Worker, Stewardship Council

representative or call JP at the TNG office if you have questions regarding this.

J.P. Laplante, B.Sc., M.A.

Mining, Oil & Gas Manager

[email protected]

Mining Update: Teztan, Polley & AMARC

PHOTOS FROM THE GOLDMAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE CEREMONIES IN

SAN FRANSISCO, CALIFORNIA

http://www.goldmanprize.org


Hello Tsilhqot’in Nation,

In Tl’etinqox we organized a trapping course in January of 2013 and invited any interested members from

the Nation and had another in 2014. The number of participants were low but at the same time the results

have been great. Paul Grinder and I with Leonard English have been collecting and working on furs mainly

on Tl’etinqox Trapline # TR0513T001. We are still at the beginning and have a lot to learn, but we have

been successful in both learning how to better trap the animals and the process of managing the furs for sale

in the auction market.

We are putting the request to start our own Tsilhqot’in trapping association west of the Fraser in association with British Columbia Trapping Association (BCTA), I believe this will, and can help, deal with some of the management issues on the land, as well as help our members connect back to their traditional territories and take care of their families traditional areas. We are looking for motivated and interested Tsilhqot’in mem-bers to participate and assert their rights to their territories and become involved in management over the population of certain animals and become more aware of forest health. Below is an insert from the BCTA web page http://www.bctrappers.bc.ca/index.html

Trappers as Conservationists

Wildlife biologists have long recognized the necessity to save the province's natural resources from waste and the need to educate the general public in the role of trapping as an critical segment of wildlife management. All wildlife populations possess natural mechanisms that eventually limit population’s densities. When this occurs, competition for limited resources compromises the health of the entire population-the weakened condition of these animals’ results in the potential decimation of entire species through starvation and disease. Regulated trapping involves the control of disease and animal population density. Uncontrolled, furbearers are primary conduits for diseases-rabies, giardias, distemper, tularemia and mange - all transmissible to humans. For more information please contact:

Blaine Grinder: Email: [email protected] Phone: 250-394-4212 ext.232 Paul Grinder Email:: [email protected] Phone: 250-392-3918.

Trapping Report by Blaine Grinder—Referral Worker

http://www.bctrappers.bc.ca/index.html

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


March The British Columbia Timber Sales (BCTS), file which was in non-compliance due to building a road without consultation, is being investigated. Tl’etinqox received assistance from Lawyer, Elizabeth Hunt, to draft a compliance letter to the BC Government, we are awaiting the outcome from this. I have been to several meetings with BC Government in regards to silviculture, which includes Mistletoe and Free Growing Surveys. This has been successful and there are silviculture crews working from Tl’esqox, Yunesit’in and Tl’etinqox. Tl’etinqox meetings have also included Forestry discussions with West Fraser and Tolko Industries, BCTS has not responded to discussions. The discussions include team building with industry to work more closely with community, but more importantly, to create economic opportunities. A proposed option is to create train-ing for community members for employment at West Fraser and Tolko sawmills.

Sally Sellars, RPF:

Natural Resource Worker

[email protected]

Deactivation and reactivation of roads is a concern which referral workers regularly deal with. More Forest Service Roads are being deactivated as timber harvest is being completed. There have been a couple of accidents on the Raven Lake Road (1300Rd) and this is being investigated by compliance & enforcement. The fence which was damaged will be repaired.

Referrals

Machinery at Tl’etinqox

Damaged Fence on 1300 Road

At the beginning of April, I was pleased to have visited and had lunch with Lawrence & Rose Elkins, Carmen Stump-Elkins, and a couple very nice young girls Elyssa and Maddie who were out riding horses by instruction from Lawrence. It was great to see the youth having fun with the horses.


The successful meetings we are having with industry have led to a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between X and X. The MOU will develop more opportunities, direct awards and a more successful on-the-ground working relationship for community contractors to increase their skills and have more open communication with industry. This is a big step forward for Tl’etinqox and builds a relationship with ?Esdilagh to continue this work in their community. Chief Joe Alphonse, Hugh Flinton, Tl’etinqox Forest Manager, Blaine Grinder, and Sally Sellars met with ?Esdilagh community to discuss options of working together for forest related issues.

More Sally Referrals

Community Meeting at ?Esdilagh

Lennon Solomon and Gene Cooper hard at work!


Stewardship Department Photos

NEW OUTHOUSE

SIGNAGE LOCATION

MOOSE COLLAR RECOVERY

MOOSE COLLAR RECOVERY

TL’ETINQOX RANCHERS MEETING


Maurice Hink Percy Lulua Joel Solomon Kevin Billyboy Royce Haines Daryll Solomon Casey Myers Francis Haines Thomas P. Billyboy Fayve Quilt Larissa Myers Skyann Setah Joann Setah Kevin Gibot


Tsilhqot’in/Xeni Gwet’in Title Case

Sechanalyagh to those who attended the community

meetings during the last week of February. These

meetings were meant as discussions around the im-

plementation of Title and negotiations with BC.

The Province is working with the Tsilhqot’in to

transition the Title lands to full benefit and control

of the Tsilhqot’in. The negotiations are meant to

discuss the rest of Tsilhqot’in territory.

While negotiations are ongoing, the TNG and Xeni

Gwet’in are working through case-by-case external

interests within the Title Area. One of these was

Guide Outfitters, which have been authorized for

one year within the Title Area.

On March 13th the Tsilhqot’in Chiefs met with Pro-

vincial Ministers in Williams Lake to discuss pro-

gress being made in negotiations.

On March 19th the Tsilhqot’in Chiefs, on Title lands,

enacted the Nemiah Declaration as law within the

Title and Rights Area. This can be viewed at

tsilhqotin.ca/About/Governance.htm.

March 20, 2015

TŜILHQOT’IN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT 253 – 4th Avenue North, Williams Lake, BC V2G 4T4, Phone (250) 392-3918 Fax (250) 398-5798

Above: Tsilhqot’in Chiefs meet with Pro-

vincial Ministers to discuss progress on the

development of an agreement for

Tsilhqot’in territory.

Left: Tsilhqot’in Chiefs with Elders

enact the Nemiah Declaration as law in

the declared Title and Rights Area.


Tsilhqot’in/Xeni Gwet’in Title Case

Dzinas gu?en (afternoon) everyone.

April 1st marked the end of the Letter of Understanding

(LOU) with BC with an additional three months provid-

ed to continue discussions in order to complete the re-

quirements of the LOU. A deadline for the outline of

next steps has been set for June 26, 2015 – the one year

anniversary of the declaration of Title.

Community sessions are being scheduled for the end

May and beginning of June for Chiefs to review the

draft agreement with community members.

The Support Team to the Chiefs is growing with the

recent addition of Robert Corman as the Lands Direc-

tor. Robert started on April 20th and will be working

closely with Xeni Gwet’in to develop plans and address

lands issues.

The Chiefs are continuing to strategize and plan for the

future of the Title Area, along with entire Tsilhqot’in

Territory throughout the spring.

Sechanalyagh to those who attended the Nation meeting

in Vancouver on April 14th. Chief Roger and Chief

Francis outlined what the Title case was and how it is

being implemented. The Chiefs were proud to see so

many youth attend.

April 14th was a busy day with the Chiefs meeting with

National Chief Perry Bellegarde and all regional Chiefs

of Canada to give an update on the progress of discus-

sions with BC.

April 30, 2015

TŜILHQOT’IN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT 253 – 4th Avenue North, Williams Lake, BC V2G 4T4, Phone (250) 392-3918 Fax (250) 398-5798

Above: Tsilhqot’in Chiefs meet with

off-reserve Tsilhqot’in members in

Vancouver on April 14, 2015 who

travelled from throughout the lower

mainland and Vancouver Island.

Above: Tsilhqot’in Chiefs with National Chief

Perry Bellegarde at the Assembly of First Na-

tions All Executive meeting in Vancouver on

April 14, 2015.

nemiah declaration as law and recreation sites authorized on

Documents