Timmy MassoB次元官网网址檚 West Main Forest Service Road blockade achieved one of his key goals, it got people talking.
B次元官网网址淚t got people to realize whatB次元官网网址檚 actually happening out there. I think a lot of people had turned that blind eye and thought, B次元官网网址業tB次元官网网址檚 not my problem, itB次元官网网址檚 someone elseB次元官网网址檚B次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� the 18-year-old Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation member told the Westerly B次元官网网址 on Sunday. B次元官网网址淪hutting it down gave that system a shock and got everyone to realize that we all have to stand up and we all have to try to do it together.B次元官网网址�
Masso and, surrounded by supporters, turned around tourists heading into the Kennedy Lake backroads, within the Tla-o-qui-aht First NationB次元官网网址檚 territory.
The blockade shone a spotlight on the environmental destruction irresponsible campers were causing and the First Nation has since announced the area has been closed to overnight camping
The First Nation also hosted a meeting of leaders from the West CoastB次元官网网址檚 eight communities last week to discuss gating West Main and work on solutions to address the unauthorized camping in the Kennedy Lake area and beyond.
B次元官网网址淚 am really glad that there was a meeting and that theyB次元官网网址檙e trying to move towards a proper solution. When weB次元官网网址檙e trying to find change and trying to find that solution, the first step is talking,B次元官网网址� Masso told the Westerly B次元官网网址 on Sunday, adding he hopes the meetings lead to action. B次元官网网址淭he reason I wanted to shut it down was because I did not want to see my NationB次元官网网址檚 territory get turned into a place where no one would care. ThereB次元官网网址檚 so many spiritual places out there that we have to look afterB次元官网网址 really hope that looking after them will save it for the future generations to come.B次元官网网址�
Ucluelet Mayor Mayco Noel attended the meeting and said the group is committed to finding solutions together and is working on clear messaging to let travellers know the area is not a welcoming pad for careless vacations.
B次元官网网址淎s a group on the West Coast, weB次元官网网址檙e standing united that we need to make very clear messaging that those people coming here need to have reservations and appropriate camping spots,B次元官网网址� Ucluelet mayor Mayco Noel told the Westerly B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not appreciated to squat and perhaps go surfing the next day.B次元官网网址�
He added the group is also working to combat smartphone apps that are currently promoting the area as a free campsite.
Noel acknowledged concerns have been raised about displacing residents who have been pushed into the area by the West CoastB次元官网网址檚 housing crisis and have nowhere else to live, but said those residents are far outnumbered by tourists.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e identified five to six people that are actually out there that have jobs in the community that are struggling to find a place to park their trailers. We are trying to find alternate options for them to relocate. The group is talking about what we can do to help those people that are falling through the cracks,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut, when one says that the people are out there working, itB次元官网网址檚 not the case. Predominantly, these people have surfboards on their car and theyB次元官网网址檙e coming here by choice with expectations theyB次元官网网址檙e going to find a piece of gravel to throw their tent on and go surfing the next day.B次元官网网址�
He noted the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District , but those efforts have yet to produce tangible results.
B次元官网网址淭he ACRD was supposed to come up with some solutions, they failed to do so. So, our eight West Coast communities are working on a strategy to deal with this locally and we hope that we can get the ACRDB次元官网网址檚 support on the matter,B次元官网网址� he said.
Tofino mayor Dan Law is part of the ACRDB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址榰nauthorized camping working groupB次元官网网址� and said the group had been meeting for about six months looking at ways to increase enforcement and cooperation.
B次元官网网址淥bviously thereB次元官网网址檚 an acute issue back there that must be addressed,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t is a complex situation and there are many views and opinions, but in the end everybody in the region is in full agreement that the situation in the backroads, with unauthorized camping, illegal activity, destruction of the environment, human waste, garbage being left everywhere, all of that has to be addressed.B次元官网网址�
Law also attended last weekB次元官网网址檚 regional meeting and said he hopes to see enforcement prioritized over closures.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a very vocal proponent for free access to public lands and I personally would like to see increased enforcement, cooperation and attention to the backroads. I would hope that various government agencies, municipalities and the regional district can find some finances to fund increased and adequate enforcement so that responsible, respectful, citizens can continue to enjoy the backcountry and can continue to learn to love the land,B次元官网网址� he said.
Noel suggested solutions identified and hammered out by regional leaders working together will be more effective than ideas coming from elsewhere.
B次元官网网址淚t means more because itB次元官网网址檚 organically grown, as opposed to being force-fed from the other side of the valley,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪olutions that weB次元官网网址檙e coming up with we know are going to work because we live on this side of the mountain range. Sometimes the solutions that people are trying to find for us may not live on the West Coast.B次元官网网址�
He suggested the regional leaders will meet B次元官网网址減robably every week for the foreseeable future.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e have to come up with solutions on the West Coast,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 wait for the province or others to come up with solutions. WeB次元官网网址檝e got to come up with solutions that are, quite frankly, quicker and more appropriate for what weB次元官网网址檙e trying to get done.B次元官网网址�
Masso said he was inspired by the support he received from residents from across the Coast during the blockade.
B次元官网网址淚t was just so wonderful that we have people in this world that do want to show their full support and want to come out there and make that change,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪eeing the support of Ucluelet and Tofino and seeing support from people you barely know that came out there and said, B次元官网网址榃e are behind you,B次元官网网址� that makes my heart glow.B次元官网网址�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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