The Ktunaxa Nation continues to stand its ground against the Jumbo Glacier Resort and Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald is again lending his support to the nation and groups opposed to the ski resort proposal for the Jumbo Creek Valley, 55 km west of Invermere.

Macdonald sent a Nov. 15 letter of support to Ktunaxa leadership and to those in opposition of the project, noting the third anniversary of the Qat’muk Declaration.

“The declaration clearly states the cultural and spiritual importance of the Jumbo Valley,” Macdonald notes, urging people to attend a special fundraising evening planned for Friday, Nov. 22 at Key City Theatre.

“It has been a very long road of opposition to this development, and I know there have been times when it has been very disheartening. But I want to take a moment to remind you of just how successful you have been.

“I believe strongly, and you have heard me say this over and over, that the best land use decisions are made in full consultation with local people. Whenever I meet with a roomful of constituents, I am always aware of just how much collective wisdom is in that room,” Macdonald wrote.

“When the BC Liberal government insisted that local First Nations and area residents supported Jumbo Resort, you made it clear through every means possible and through support for the Qat’muk Declaration that the majority of residents opposed it. Whether it was an online poll, a regional district referendum, or the election of political representatives that opposed Jumbo Resort, at every opportunity your opposition was made clear,” he stated.

Macdonald praised project opponents for monitoring and documenting activities of the proponent, with them laying out in detail “violations that should be investigated. And the Auditor General, in his report on the Environmental Assessment (EA) process, laid out an indictment of both the substance of EA certificates and the ability of the EAO to enforce the conditions of the certificate.

“When the BC Liberal government claimed that road access to a resort in Jumbo Valley would not be a significant issue, you said that a year-round road would be extremely difficult and costly to keep open. This summer the road to the Jumbo Valley remained blocked for much of the spring and summer due to washouts and slides.

“When the BC Liberal government continued to announce that a $1 billion investment in the resort was just around the corner and that there would be ski lifts on the glaciers by this winter, you said that this proposed resort was not the kind of project that a serious investor would be interested in. There is still no investor,” Macdonald penned, adding, “When the BC Liberal government and the resort proponent claimed that there would be skiing on Farnham Glacier this past summer, you said that the market for this product would be extremely limited. In fact, programs offered by Glacier Resort Limited or the College of the Rockies (COTR) in partnership with Glacier Resort were so undersubscribed that they were cancelled. And in the case of COTR, this would have been at great cost to the organization considering the amount of money that was spent on advertising.”

Macdonald continued by adding more praise to those who have stood against the resort proposal.

“At each step in this long process, your commitment to and passion for the land has caused you to speak for what you know is right. Your knowledge and understanding of the area, the environment, and spiritual and cultural values gave you the ability to speak the truth on this issue when the government was determined to mislead you,” he said.

“As we come together on Nov. 22 to stand with the Ktunaxa Nation Council in support of the Qat’muk Declaration, I hope that we will all remember that it is through our collective efforts that this is a battle that will soon be won,” Macdonald concluded.

On November 22, at Cranbrook’s Key City Theatre, join Pat and Baiba Morrow, the Ktunaxa Nation Dance Troupe, and more in recognition and support of the Qat’muk Declaration.

All proceeds will go towards the Qat’muk Legal Defense Fund.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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