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Niedermayer reiterates his opposition to Jumbo
One of the most accomplished hockey players in the history of the game is reiterating his opposition to a $1 billion three-season ski resort proposal in the upper Jumbo Creek Valley, 55 km west of Invermere.
This time, Scott Niedermayer has joined with the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) in a ceremonial re-visiting of their Qat’muk (GOT-MOOK) Declaration, one year after they delivered to it the provincial Legislature in Victoria, today, Nov. 15.
The Qat’muk Declaration outlines the cultural significance of the region to Ktunaxa, and provides principles for appropriate activities and usage within the sacred area, and is expressly opposed to the Jumbo Glacier Resort proposal.
Located in southeastern British Columbia, Qat’muk is the home of the Grizzly Bear Spirit and the core of a Ktunaxa sacred site. It also provides key habitat for grizzlies and numerous other wildlife species, notes a KNC press release issued Nov. 15.
“I grew up in the Kootenays and value the stunning and rugged beauty that the region has to offer,” said Niedermayer, a Cranbrook resident who has won every major hockey championship going, including the Memorial Cup, World Junior gold, four Stanley Cups (three with New Jersey Devils and one with Anaheim Ducks) and two Olympic Gold Medals – with the most recent being the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, where he captained the squad.
“I have always been a vocal opponent of development happening in the Jumbo Valley. There are very few areas like this left in the world, and we should preserve it for future generations. I want my children and all British Columbians to be able to enjoy this area, just as I am able to,” he stated. “That is why I am joining the Ktunaxa in a call for the provincial government to prevent this jumbo mistake.”
“We are very grateful to Scott, for his support to bring greater awareness to this issue,”said Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation Chair. “Scott has shown his great leadership throughout his hockey career and life, and we are honoured that he has chosen to support our call to prevent this jumbo mistake from happening. To have Captain Canada say no to the Jumbo Glacier Resort is a huge boost to our efforts,” she continued.
“The Ktunaxa have been completely clear: they will not allow development in this special area,” said Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald. “And the residents in the area have also been clear: this is a project that does not make economic, environmental or societal sense.
“To have Scott Niedermayer with us today is a great honour. Scott is someone who grew up in this area, knows the backcountry, and is willing to speak up for what he knows is right.”
In conjunction with the anniversary, the Ktunaxa Nation also released an economic report that refutes many of the claims of economic benefits that the proposed resort would create. The report was prepared by economist, Dr. Marvin Schaffer, and was commissioned by the Ktunaxa Nation to review the true economic benefit that this resort would provide.
“The Shaffer report clearly shows that many of the benefits that the supporters of this resort tout, are just smoke and mirrors,” continued Teneese. “There are just too many risks with this proposed resort, and ultimately for Ktunaxa, the desire to protect this culturally significant area is the most critical. The Ktunaxa are not opposed to development, and in many cases we have supported development throughout our territory. However, development has to be done in a sensible manner in appropriate locations.
“In this case, approval of a resort in Qat’muk would cause serious and irreversible harm to the Ktunaxa way of life, and it would also be an environmental disaster in south eastern British Columbia. The Provincial decision makers now have an opportunity to say no to this resort and prevent this jumbo mistake,” Teneese stated.
The Declaration, Shaffer Report and short documentary can all be found at www.beforejumbo.com.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
