Vernon

The Okanagan Indian Band and members of the Okanagan Nation are attempting to block Tolko Industries from logging in the Brown's Creek watershed near Vernon.

About 25 members of the Okanagan Indian Band, as well as chief Fabian Alexis, Upper Nicola Band Chief Tim Manuel and Okanagan Nation Alliance Chair Stewart Phillip travelled to the area Tuesday night to oppose Tolko's attempts to log in the watershed.

According to Alexis, the area around Brown's Creek is the subject of a land dispute between the OIB and the province.

"This has been going back and forth in the courts for about 10 years now," says Alexis.

"We have to prove our existence and part of that is the collecting of archaeological evidence, historical trail mapping and recording of culturally modified trees. Brown's Creek is in our area."

Alexis says a preservation order is in effect from the courts. "If we allow Tolko to log, that evidence could be destroyed."

"We are trying to protect it and we are going to protect the evidence."

Okanagan Nation Alliance Chair Stewart Phillip says Tolko is aware of the work OIB is undertaking and believes their attempt to log is a deliberate provocation.

"Given the economic downturn and the poor performance by Tolko, it is our belief that Tolko is deliberately provoking this in a effort to achieve some compensation from the province," says Phillip.

"The Okanagan Indian Band has said clearly that they will not allow them into the area to commence this logging operation."

In a statement released Wednesday, Tolko Industries has indicated it is proceeding with operations in the area after deferring harvesting activities for over 28 months.

Regional Manager Jim Baskerville says the company voluntarily delayed activities in recognition of the area's importance to the OIB.

“The impact of the mountain pine beetle epidemic and Tolko’s investment in the area make further delay irresponsible,” says Baskerville.

“The longer we wait, the more mountain pine beetle impacted trees will decline without recoverable value, the higher the wildfire risk will grow, and the longer reforestation will be delayed.”

Baskerville says approximately 27,000 hectares of the area lies within Tolko’s Tree Farm License 49.

Phillip says about 30 to 40 people are on the hill and will turn Tolko workers around if they show up.

"We are beginning to dig in up there. We are starting to develop campsites, shelters and places for our fires. We are in this for the long haul."

Meantime, RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk says police are aware of the situation and will continue to monitor activities in the Brown's Creek watershed.