Re: (B.C. Views, Nov. 6, 2017)

Tom FletcherB次元官网网址檚 column regarding lessons learned from the Jumbo Glacier Resort Supreme Court of Canada ruling had multiple errors in fact. On behalf of the Ktunaxa Nation Council I make the following offer of correction.

Fletcher wrote that the Jumbo Valley B次元官网网址� QatB次元官网网址檓uk as it is known by Ktunaxa B次元官网网址� was not in a B次元官网网址渄eclared territoryB次元官网网址� and was not part of treaty negotiations.

In fact, the Kootenay Nation Land Claim and Declaration expressed the extent of Ktunaxa territory in British Columbia, an area including QatB次元官网网址檓uk and the Jumbo Valley, in 1981. The 1993 Ktunaxa NationB次元官网网址檚 Statement of Intent, the foundational document for every treaty negotiation table in B.C., expresses the same territorial boundary that includes Jumbo. Furthermore, the Jumbo Valley itself was subject to repeated discussions and expressions of interest at the treaty table by Ktunaxa for many years.

The article made a series of errors in the timeline of Ktunaxa efforts to protect QatB次元官网网址檓uk. Ida Chong was not Aboriginal Relations Minister when Ktunaxa gave the QatB次元官网网址檓uk Declaration to the provincial government in 2010. She received our delegation on behalf of the province as a Minister of the Crown, a task she executed with grace and aplomb.

Furthermore, Adrian Dix did not invite Ktunaxa Nation to the B.C. legislature in 2011. Ktunaxa Nation was coming to Victoria with Scott Niedermayer for the one-year anniversary of the QatB次元官网网址檓uk Declaration and Dix agreed to support our efforts less than a week prior.

Fletcher implied that our efforts are financially supported by environmental organizations. In fact, Ktunaxa Nation produced and paid for the B次元官网网址渆xpensive public relations and legal offensiveB次元官网网址� as well as B次元官网网址渢he national newspaper ads, glossy press materials, custom banners and a lavishly produced videoB次元官网网址� on our own.

None of these errors credit Ktunaxa with agency. Ktunaxa Nation Council pursued these objectives without the direction or invitation of any outside party.

Fletcher wrote that QatB次元官网网址檓uk is a myth and a legend. However disappointed we may be with the Supreme CourtB次元官网网址檚 ruling, the court did not dispute Ktunaxa spiritual beliefs and practices to be genuine and sincere.

Finally, the article referenced the B次元官网网址渁ssertion of veto power.B次元官网网址� Ktunaxa Nation have not asserted nor claimed veto power through its efforts to protect QatB次元官网网址檓uk. The constant spectre of veto is not of our creation, however much it appears in the media.

If lessons are to be learned they should be based on facts.

Troy Sebastian, on behalf of Ktunaxa Nation, Lkwungen territory