A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 3, 1994 Claims meets set SKEENA REFORM MP Mike Scott Is beginning his promised northwest public meetings on land claims with a session in Smithers Aug. 10. Scott says he wants to give in- formation and gather opinion in a series of meetings ending with a major session here the end of September. There are also meetings planned for Kitimat and Prince Rupert and - the MP will make tips to Stewarl, the Queen Charlotte Is- lands and Dease Lake. Scolt has been a constant critic of the lack of information on claims talks and on the implica- lions of settlements. “My goal is to make people aware of what’s going on — at what slage we're at with negotia- tions in B.C.,”? said Scott. Tree fi THE FOREST SERVICE Is using wrong information in laying out iis vision of how much wood can be cui north of here, says a forest- er for the Nisga’a Tribal Council. “I don’t think they look at the reality of tomorrow,’’ said Collier Azak. He made his comments as part of the Nisga’a Tribal Council’s response 10 the forest service’s timber supply: review of what it calls the Kalum North. That takes in the Nass Valley and runs north on both sides of Hwy37, The forest service says the amount of wood now being cut can’t continue without the pos- sibility of major reductions in the cut and workforce. It predicts the now current an- nual logging rate of 1.25 million cubic metres a year may have to decline to 410,000 cubic metres a year over the next 120 years, While the Nisga’a also agree that the cutting rate will have to ready NEARLY A year after it was promised, a condensed version of the forest service’s timber supply review for the area north of here is out. The 20-page document outlines in brief the forest service’s opinion that the amount of log- ging going on in the North Kalum area exceeds the number of new trees now growing there. The forest service says the cur- rent annual allowable cut level of 1.25 million cubic metres will have to be reduced by two-thirds over ihe next 120 years unless changes are made, The North Kaium stretches up- ward from the Nass Valley along both sides of Hwy37. The more comprehensive tim- ber supply and socio-economic studies were released last year. Local forest service official Dave Nicholson said last week the condensed version seis in mo- tion a seri¢s of public meetings. Commenis from those meetings will be sent to the chicf forester who will decide on the new an- nual allowable cut. “We anticipate that this could be announced by the end of the year,” said Nicholson. No dates have. been sei yet for the public meetings. Included in the condensed ver- sion is an appendix from the Nisga’a Tribal Council which is critical of the forest service’s numbers and suggestions, Copies of the condensed report are available at the local forest service office. Written comments should be in by Oct. 20 and sent to both the forest service and to the Nisga’a Tribal Council. kk kkk Also part of the review is a proposal to divide the Kainm Timber Supply Area into two. What is now known as the South Kalum (the area reaching down past Terrace to Kitimat) will become its own timber supp- ly area while the North Kalum will become the Nass Timber Supply Area. Separate timber supply areas with their own annua! cuts means thal any reductions in logging limits because of the situation in the north, for.cxample, won't then have an effect on logging in (he south. “The negoliators for the most part have ignored the local people. There have been no dis- cussions, 00 public debate.” “T feel they’re trying to get an agreement in place before the public knows what the details are,” said the MP. ''These land claim negotiations will fail if they don’t listen to the people.”” Scott is preparing an informa- tion package that’ be handed out ai the beginning of the meelings. Some of that will be based on existing or proposed setilements in the Yukon and in the North- - west Territories. In the end I will represent the views of the people of Skeena,’’ Scott said, ‘‘But I also see it as my responsibility to at least come up with some proposals, ideas and information that could help lead the debate.” Scott said he’s bothered that when the provincial and federal governments do mect with north- west interests, those sessions are with major players. ‘While I do realize that big in- dustry is important as a creator of jobs, in the long mn my sympathy is for the people who live and work in this riding,’’ Scott said. “Big business can pick up and move. They can: be in South America or Russia tomorrow,’’ he said. *‘But who speaks for the small operators? Who speaks for the sporisfishermen? Who speaks for the recreational users of the atea?”? Elected to Parliament last fail, Scott is now one of three Reform party critics for native issues, ures queried drop, they say the reduction will have to be more severe. That’s because the forest ser- vice is more optimistic than are the Nisga’a about the amount of wood in the Kalum North. “We are at odds with their ap- proach,’” said Azak. ‘*We look at the whole forest, rather than seg- ment it and take it apart.”’ “‘Nisga’a sustainable cuts would be less than 25 per cent of the long-term level determined in the (forest service) analysis,’’ in- dicates a Nisga’a appendix at- tached fo the forest service review. The WNisga’a add that trees would have to grow for as much as 250 years before they can be cut as opposed to the forest ser- vice’s estimate of 100 to 150 years. And they say existing clear cuts have hampered the forest’s poten- tial to grow replacement trees, Their response also says the forest service’s estimate of future jobs is solely based on current methods of logging. The Nisga’a instead say options should include having value added facilities closer to the wood supply, establishing ecotourism based on remaining wildemess and developing co- operative ventures, The Nisga’a wrote their appen- dix using information from forestry studies they have done on areas within and adjacent to the Kalum North. Its attachment to the timber supply review comes under the terms of an interim protection measures agreement signed as part of the Nisga’a land claims — talks. Dissatisfaction with the forest ° service. approach to the review caused the Nisga’a to write a separate response, _ **We’ve had an opportunity to get our message ont and we now hope people will now respond,” said Azak, THE Bavarian Inn Restaurant } The friendliest “Inn” town! 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Call it a proposal,’” said Osborn of the two governments’ position, ._ He said the federal and provin- cial governments were simply Tesponding to Nisga’a sugges- tions of what a settlement might contain. “We were able to respond to them and make a counter- proposal. We couldn’t do that un- til we had a mandate and now that we do, the real work is begin- ning,’’ said Osborn. “I estimate in over a short peri- od of time, two to two and half months, we'll know if there is a basis for a deal here,’’ he added. The negotiator anticipated an accelerated negotiations schedule in the next few months. Also making a ‘no comment’ was chief provincial negotiator Jack Ebbels. As with Osborm, Ebbels ack- nowledged that the federal and provincial governmenis presented the Nisga’a with a proposal. “We tried fo respond in as comprehensive fashion as we could at this stage of the game, ” said Ebbels. ‘We're. hopeful we can reach an agreement in principle by the end of March 1995 at least and, hopefully, there’Il be an op- portunity to do that earlier, by the end of the year,’? he added. Nisga’a Tribal Council spokes- man Nelson Leeson said there is plenty of work remaining before an agreement in principle could be initialed. “T have absolutely nothing to divulge at ‘this time,’ Leeson said, ““We’ll let you know when there’s something to report.’ Make a Fashion Statement With Your Windows * Beautiful Vertical & Horizontal Blinds + Valances % Toppers *% Matching Bedding For a FREE Consultation Call LINK WINDOW COVERINGS 6325-4444 [SKEENA CHEM-DRY°® ee The Carbonated | or Carpet Cleaner * Most carpets dry in 60 minutes « Leaves no dirt attracting residue « Completely safe and can non-toxic « No steam or shampoo * No dry Chemicals es WN otk Eben cee woe, "Residential *Commercial . «Free Estimates Satisfaction guaranteed or your money refunded, Call 635-2436 Specialists in: * Carpet & upholstery cleaning | ¢ Oriental rug cleaning * Soil & stain protection NO PROBLEM § Don't let the fact that you don't own your own boat stop you from § B spending your days fishing or water-skiing. 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