|
|
STOP THE DESECRATION OF 4,000 YR. BURIAL GROUND!
Jo Lui (jlui@SOL.UVIC.CA)
Thu, 11 May 1995 21:38:18 +0000
(PUBLISHED BY THE NANOOSE NATION, B.C. CANADA)
*************************************
PROTECTING THE SACRED RESTING
PLACE OF OUR ANCESTORS
*************************************
WE ARE OBLIGATED TO PROTECT OUR
1200 BURIALS AT CRAIG BAY,
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.
The NANOOSE Firsts Nations is currently fighting an ongoing battle to save
its burial site at Craig Bay. The bulldozers of INTRAWEST, the resort
development company, threatens to destroy our sacred burial ground
containing approximately 1200 burials and 14000 associated cultural
objects. Already 400 burials have been uncovered. 284 are presently exposed
and 147 sets of human remains have been removed.
Not only is this site of major importance to the Nanoose people, it is one
of, if not the most important heritage and cultural site ever to be
unearthed in the province of British Columbia.
The issue of First Nation's sacred sites, such as the Nanoose burial ground
at Craig Bay, will develop as a major concern as more and more such burial
sites are desecrated by specific large scale commercial developments in
British Columbia.
In the past, the First Nations of the province, through a feeling of
helplessness based on past experiences at the hands of the insensitive
Governments and arrogant developers have remained painfully silent as they
have witnessed the destruction of their sacred burial sites.
However, many of the people in the First Nations communities in British
Columbia are no longer prepared to remain obediently silent. A rapidly
growing solidarity has developed between a number of First Nations
committed to assisting the Nanoose Nation in stopping further construction
and disinterrment within their sacred burial site.
NDP GOVERNMENT PERMITS DESECRATION
The Provincial NDP Government has issued a permit which allows the
continued destruction of the Nanoose Burial Grounds at Craig Bay. This
permit was issued in spite of an appeal filed by the Nanoose First Nation
on December 9, 1994 which challenges the recent decision of the Supreme
Court of British Columbia not to allow the protection of the Nanoose burial
ground under the Cemetery and Funeral Services Act.
Bowing to the pressure from the developers, Intrawest, the NDP
government has issued a new permit to allow the complete devastation of a
site already ravaged under the two previous permits illegally issued by the
government Archaeology Branch. This new permit was issued in spite of the
order of Justice Hutchesin, (after quashing existing permits) in his
November 14, 1994 judgment to have a hearing before any "new" permits are
issued for the Craig Bay site. He called the issuance of the permit "dirty
pool". In addition, this permit has been issued despite a clear provision
within the newly amended Heritage Conservation Act. The burial ground at
Craig Bay is the largest Aboriginal burial site known to exist in the
province of British Columbia.
LEGISLATION EXISTS TO PROTECT OUR HERITAGE SITES
Legislation exists that could serve to protect the Nanoose sacred burial
site. The Heritage Conservation Statutes Amendment Act, July 1994, clearly
states the following:
Agreements with first Nation
3.1
(1) The province may enter into a formal
agreement with a First Nation with respect to
the conservation and protection of heritage
sites and heritage objects that represent the
cultural heritage of aboriginal people who are
represented by that First Nation.
Permits
5.
(2) The Minister may
(b) Refuse to issue a permit for action that,
in the opinion of the Minister, would be
inconsistent with the purpose of the heritage
protection of the property.
*****
"We will continue on with our struggle to protect the sacred resting place
of our ancestors until such time as the Province withdraws the permit for
all time and the 18 acre burial site is fully protected"
******************************
FOR MORE INFORMATION
NANOOSE FIRST NATION
Hereditary Chief Wilson Bob
Chief Wayne Edwards
Councilor Tom Bob
Councilor Jim Bob
Phone: (604) 390-3661
Fax: 390-3365
*************************************************
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP PLEASE
SHARE THIS INFORMATION, AND WRITE OR FAX COMPLAINTS TO:
MINISTER OF TOURISM, SMALL BUSINESS & CULTURE
BILL BARLEE
ROOM 124 PARLIAMENT
VICTORIA B.C.
V8V-1X4
FAX 1-604-387-4348
*************************************************
|