The killing of wildlife on Skwl膩x te Secwepemc煤lecw band land has forced Kukpi7 (Chief) James TommaB次元官网网址檚 hand in keeping unauthorized mushroom pickers out of the already fragile area.

The 2023 Bush Creek East wildfire resulted in an influx of morel mushrooms this spring. The band said the valuable fungi have attracted B次元官网网址渉undredsB次元官网网址� of pickers who donB次元官网网址檛 always respect the still recovering land.

Tomma explained the band has been having problems with trespassers leaving garbage behind, having fires, setting up permanent camps and cutting trees. Slain wildlife, however, was the final straw.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e getting people that feel that theyB次元官网网址檙e entitled and have a right to be there, but with that, theyB次元官网网址檙e not doing their due diligence or responsibilitiesB次元官网网址� and sadly weB次元官网网址檙e seeing some animals being killed,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hether thatB次元官网网址檚 mushroom pickers or not, the fact is when we find dead does and fawns and bears being shot for no particular reason is quite disheartening.B次元官网网址�

Tomma said photos have been submitted to BC Conservation, but until someone is actually caught in the act, they canB次元官网网址檛 know whoB次元官网网址檚 responsible. The bandB次元官网网址檚 Territorial Resource Stewardship (TRS) department confirmed that in addition to a dead deer theyB次元官网网址檇 found, two bears had also been killed and B次元官网网址渢here was two people bragging about doing it to buyersB次元官网网址� on the may long weekend.

Tomma said the band will now be putting up a gate on Scotch Creek Forest Service Road to block public access, which he expected to be in place a day or two after talking to the Observer on May 29, with a permit system to be implemented the following week.

In early May, the band had requested assistance from the province, but that has been B次元官网网址渓imited.B次元官网网址� Tomma has been speaking with Assistant Deputy Minister Jamie Jeffreys, adding B次元官网网址渟heB次元官网网址檚 actually in my chambers now talking to some of my Guardians [of the Land].B次元官网网址�

Skwl膩x is not only working to keep people out because of the disrespect being shown, but also environmental protection as the area, Tomma said, is still in a state of emergency and more vulnerable since the fires.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something that we and the rest of the public have to understand and do to help Mother Nature recover,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that the things being done are B次元官网网址渏ust not conducive to recovery.B次元官网网址�

There is also the concern of safety, not only for band members that have been threatened with violence, but also the pickers themselves, with one having had to be rescued by the RCMP and search and rescue after getting lost near Adams Lake.

B次元官网网址淪ome of these people, these weekend warriorsB次元官网网址� go in there just totally unprepared. And thereB次元官网网址檚 been a few situations where people had to be helped out by some of the locals because theyB次元官网网址檙e just not equipped or understand the danger that is posed out thereB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� Tomma pointed out. B次元官网网址淭hey not only put themselves in danger, but also the kind people that end up helping them if something happens to them. And they take away resources that should be put to use in better places.B次元官网网址�

He added that while the threat against his band members hasnB次元官网网址檛 yet escalated to actual violence, B次元官网网址渢he potential for it is always there.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪o thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of reasons behind me putting a gate up, and if I donB次元官网网址檛 get the help from the provinceB次元官网网址� I have no choice but to lock it. I just hope that all the locals are understanding that what weB次元官网网址檙e doing here is to protest of to have a confrontation, itB次元官网网址檚 all for the protection of the land, because as First Nations people, weB次元官网网址檙e the original stewards of the land and weB次元官网网址檙e going to exercise that now.B次元官网网址�

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