Alas Resort - Farnham Blockade 1 - Sophie Pierre

On Thursday July 31 Jumbo Wild supporters were forced to blockade the Farnham Creek road in the Central Purcell Mountains to prevent Glacier Resorts, Ltd. from proceeding with plans to construct a new road and temporary lift on the East Farnham Glacier. This work was planned and construction started without public notice, First Nations consultation, or consultation of adjacent or overlapping stakeholders.

JumboWild quickly learned that Glacier Resorts Ltd. had been given a new tenure in Farnham Creek to replace the existing Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA) tenure that expired in December 2007. Despite the fact that the new tenure increased from the CODA tenure of 240 hectares to over 1400 hectares, and the permitted uses changed from temporary access for athlete use to alpine skiing and sight-seeing with permanent access, THIS NEW TENURE WAS CREATED WITH NO PUBLIC, FIRST NATIONS, OR ADJACENT STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION.

Grant Costello, spokesman for Glacier Resorts, continues to claim that this road and lift is simply for CODA athletes and other amateur athletes, and is a part of the Jumbo Resort Master Plan. However, CODA denies any association with Glacier Resorts in regards to this proposed road and lift, and there is no road access noted in the Jumbo Glacier Resort Master Plan - planned access is from the Jumbo Creek side.

Within days of the blockade going up, Glacier Resorts Ltd. pulled out their road-building equipment, but not before roughing out a road for 800 meters through sensitive alpine tundra, including across a small alpine tarn. A week later, on Wednesday August 13, JumboWild supporters were joined by members of the Ktunaxa Nation for a celebration of success in halting the construction of this lift. Ktunaxa Chief Sophie Pierre welcomed over 100 celebrants to the blockade, stating: "It has to hurt a person's spirit to see what is being done here. I don't know what has gone wrong in this particular case, where we have a process in place, a process that we, the Ktunaxa Nation has been involved with, and that we thought was honourable. The Ktunaxa nation council has always said that it opposed this proposed development as it was presented. We are concerned with what is happening now, with the proponent, with the complete lack of respect for the process we are involved in."

Wildsight's Purcell Program Manager Dave Quinn was quick to note that a recent statement by the resort proponent that the road was being put in to provide skiing for Kootenay amateur athletes is a red herring. "This assault on the alpine is not about skiing and is not about children or Kootenay amateur athletes as the Jumbo developers erroneously claim," he said. "The existing Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA) training camp on the East Farnham Glacier is open for all amateur athletes with coaches to apply for training. The people on the blockade have maintained a positive relationship with CODA and their operations have continued as usual. CODA representatives have stated clearly that this attempt by developers to build a road and a lift are not in support of CODA's program."

Quinn said that after nearly 20 years of controversy, JumboWild supporters look forward to the tenure being revoked—"and to the entire ill-conceived proposal being dropped for good." He cautions that however long the controversy remains, "JumboWild supporters are energized to carry on. It's time for the Province to kill this ridiculous proposal once and for all."

Check www.jumbowild.com for more details and for the latest news on the most recent controversy surrounding the proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ski
• Snowboard
• CODA
• Jumbo
• Glacier
• Resort
• Blockade
• First
• Nations
• Real
• Estate
• Land

[douglasfmitchell]

Why do we need to desecrate a beautiful valley to develop another ski resort? Who do I trust to the look after the best interests of the environment: big business or the Ktunaxa people who have lived in this area for thousands of years?

[hls1492]

? LMAO Our greed? Green Taliban?! Who's taking profits for their own gain on this crown land besides foresters, silviculturalists, hunting guides, and local tourism businesses? You talk training for amateur athletes? Hike your ass up there!! I do.

[jumbowildseries]

thank you kindly to all those who showed up to this roadblock! Now there are piles of amateur snowsports athletes in our region that will not be able to take advantage of summer training opportunities on this glacier because of your greed! Thanks!

[itsgonnafly]

What will support your band? Is it mining or logging, sorry it is pretty harmful, the closed Kimberley mine continues to leech. Mining companies with claims in Jumbo have recently been prospecting. 16% of the Kootenays are already protected - green groups want 100% protection. Their blind opposition will meet up with your traditional uses - look at the seal meat ban. The Inuit will warn you to be careful who you make friends with, as they will turn on you - the Green Taliban cannot be trusted.

[itsgonnafly]

Fact - The Shuswaps support it...as I wrote the Ktunaxa don't. Thats the facts and yes I know the facts. The fact is the Ktunaxa opposed before any facts were in...a point you chose to ignore. Just what is it that will support the Ktunaxa...the Shuswap see an opportunity. The Ktunaxa do not and that is their right to oppose it.

[wolfchief77]

I will continue to fight and support my KTUNAXA nation.

[hls1492]

The fact is they moved in to start building without notice to any of the people First Nations and non. This government is ignorrant and secretive. WAKE UP!!! This is a huge source of fresh clean water, not a common thing in todays world. We have 10 Gold Medals the first from a skier!!! There is no need to make this an "Olympic Training Center," AKA Land grab!! This is our home, these are our rights! It will never fly!!!

[hls1492]

First of all,the Shuswap were exterpated here from the Jasper area. The Ktunaxa allowed this and now share the territory. As for the Chief's first visit, doesn't matter, many Ktunaxa use and love this part of our Traditional Territory past and present. Know your facts before you tell a story from either side.

[itsgonnafly]

I notice that this Chief stated that this day was her first visit to the Valley?! This chief represented the KTUNAXA Tribal council...the Shuswap band is the local first nations and they are full support of this proposal. The Ktunaxa have stated since day 1, before any negotiation that they will oppose the resort no matter what - where is the honourable negotiation she spoke about? The rest of the text about the bypassing permitting is completely incorrect - propaganda - hear both sides first.

[Staffdog360]

I pray to god Jumbo resort will never happen! Bless you people!!!