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Tahitan group eyes
‘run at chief’s seat

" TAHLTAN PEOPLE who oppose the direc- ’

tion taken by their leaders in resource devel-
opment may now turn to the ballot box, says
one of their spokesman.

Oscar Dennis says one of a group of Tahl-
tan who had been blockading a road leading
to the Klappan area may run against Iskut

band chief Louis Louie in elections next.

month.

_. “We're taking this one Step at a time. It’s
not over yet,” said Dennis. “This is our land.
We never surrendered or conceded it.” ”

' The blockade, up since mid-July prevent-
ing Shell Canada from gaining access to its
coalbed methane property and Fortune Min-
erals from its anthracite coal deposits in the
-Klappan, ended Sept. 16 when RCMP offi-
cers arrested 15 people.

Two were young people and:13 were el-
ders, including stroke: victim Jerry Quock,
said Dennis. .

’ The arrests were made on the strength of
an enforcement order of-a Supreme Court
injunction received Sept. 2 by’ Fortune Min-
-erals.

Both Dennis and the RCMP described the

arrests as peaceful. -

" “We were in very good communication

with the’ police officers and cooperated ful- -

ly,” said Dennis. -
‘Those arrested were taken to the Dease
Lake RCMP detachment and then released

on the condition they appear later in court to
"answer a contempt charge.

The blockade followed an occupation of
. the Telegraph Creek Tahitan band’s office in

"January by a group of people who opposed .

the direction taken by its chief, Jerry Asp.
That occupation continues but some of

the band’s main administrative functions |
have now been farmed out to a third party -

because it interfered with the band’s work-
ings..

_ There are two Tahltan bands, Iskut and °

Telegraph Creek, who govern reserve lands
but there is also the Tahitan Central Council,

‘ designed to represent the hereditary chiefs. .

But those involved in the occupation and

the blockade also oppose the council, saying.

it does not represent all of the Tahltan inter-
ests on their traditional territory.

The central council submitted an af! fida-
vit as Part of the Fortune injunction applica-

tion, Saying the blockade prevented Tahhtan ;
‘people from working.

Also involved is the Tahltan Nation De-

. velopment Corporation, a Tahltan-owned

company that supplies people and services
to the Eskay Creek gold mine and that has
environmental work and other contricts with
Fortune and Shell,

" Those at the blockade posed the corpo-
ration’s business involvement, saying they
did not want to risk environmental or other

‘damage should resource development take .

place in the Klappan.

Fortune now has people in the Klappan-

doing exploratory. work on: the anthracite
coal deposits in anticipation of seeking gov-
ernment approval for an open pit mine.
Shell left the Klappan earlier this year
and then cancelled the rest of its 2005 work

‘program in order to let the Tahltan work out

their internal problems by themselves.

Northern village to benefit _
| from small hydro project

THE TINY community of Atlin, south of
the Yukon border, could have a small hydro
electric project providing it | power within
two years.

A tun-of-river generator : in a creek just
northeast of town would replace an existing

B.C. Hydro diesel generation system, pro-_
vidéd a company owned by the Taku River’

Tlingit First Nation réaches a purchase deal
with B.C: Hydro.

‘The project would. cost $8 million and. -

connect to existing power lines and be suf-
ficient for the community’s current .and pro-
jected needs for 20.years, says Stuart Simp-
son, who; is managing the project for the .

" Tlingit-owned Taku Land Corporation.

“B.C. Hydro would continue to operate
the local grid and service its customers. We
would simply provide the power and not be

* he said.

a mulity, ; ;
ath B.C. Hydro and its oustomners would:

benefit fi from a-stable and.efficient source of .
power, Simpson continued. It also fits B.C.

‘Hydro’s goal of environmentally-friendly
power development and of encouraging in-
dependent power producers, he said.

The proposal is believed to be just the

second of its type in B.C. There’s another
project near Port Alberni on Vancouver Is-
land and it also involves a local First Nations
enterprise.

. The Taku Land Corporation has_ hired
Sigma Engineering to. provide the engineer-
ing and Synex. Energy Resource Lid. has
been taken on as an investing partner. It’s

_also part of the Port Alberni project.

; Aside from the generator itself, a power-
house and a line to connect to the B.C. Hydro
grid would be needed. Additionally, work
needs to be done to provide a winter water
storage area when creek flows are low.

_ Simpson said he anticipates the necessary

approvals. and.permits will be ready by this .

time next year, clearing the way for construc-

. tion leading to the 2007 startup date.

IMPORTANT PUBLIC

"Terrace Furniture Mart i is making a major !
“renovation and everything must be- sold off.
All items are near or below cost. Everything must
go to make room for this major renovation.

“3pe. le

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$1900 ©

9 « Leath
3399 e Sectional H

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pc. Sofa 195)

seat. Reg.
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25 oN °

offee

0% OFF: ° Gr

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AG. Pieces Starting
Dining Set- rea. §

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And Ends Starting | te —

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CRNA or

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - Ai1

635-TIPS |

> TOPPERS
ITS

Presents...

Join us foran evening of multicultural dining...

Our second-year Culinary Arts students are presenting fine cuisine from around the world.
Come experience culinary delights from the Orient, South Africa, the Philippines, our local
First Nations, and more. .

4

September 30th, at 7pm, Terrace Campus, 5331 McConnell Avenue,

“

Tickets are $60 0 ond available at Elan Travel, Misty River Books, the Artful Cup, Ken’s Marine, .

the Coast Inn of the West, and all NWCC campus locations.

Donations from local ortists and businesses will be auctioned and door prizes awarded

throughout the evening. All proceeds from the event go toward scholarships and bursaries to

Your support will make a difference.

x4
KA

_ SOTH ANNIVERSARY ~ 1975-2005

)NORTHWEST.

es SARTRE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

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be awarded to local students for post-secondary education at Northwest Community College.

£1.877.277.2288

WAL MART CANADA SAFETY NOTICE

GARDEN TRENDS CHAIRS —

« Wal-Mart Canada
has issued a voluntary
' safety notice on three §
different chairs sold
at Wal-Mart stores .
~ in Canada between. .:.
March 1 and
August 5, 2005.
The chairs. (pictured) were sold under the Garden Trends brand
name, at prices ranging from $9.97 to $49.97. The chairs include upright.»
and lounge models and colours include. tones of orange, white, blue,
green/grey, and various mixed stripes...
‘. Each item bears one of the following three UPC product numbers. -
located on a product tag: 0004766938392; 0082342012433; or 0004766902145.
These chairs pose a potential hazard from structural or hinge...
malfunction. Wal-Mart Canada has removed the affected chairs from its
Canadian stores and shelves and asks customers to return them to their
local Wal-Mart Canada store for a full refund.
_ Wal-Mart Canada has issued this notice as a precaution in the oe
oar interest of consumer or safety. a : 2 Peet

-. Buy and sell used snowboard gear

SATURDAY __
OCTOBER 1*" 2005
| 924-4717 ave. Latesise Ave. =

Drop gear off between 8 & 10 am
Swap & sale starts at 10 am
Pick up your gear after 4 pm