Every week for 2 years, WSÁNEĆ elder Carl Olsen has stood next to the highway where the river is visible. He, with a growing number of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, is defending the river, the salmon, and the rights of the WSANEC nations against a government proposal to widen the highway within Goldstream Provincial Park.
Not only will the proposal do nothing to alleviate traffic congestion. It would involve the removal of hundreds of trees, the degradation of salmon spawning grounds, disrupt the integrity of the Goldstream ecosystem and violate the treaty rights of the WSÁNEĆ to steward the land and waters within their territory.
Proceeding with the proposal is stalled on account of the resistance so far.
More and more people are learning about the cultural and spiritual significance of this place to the WSÁNEĆ people, and why standing together is a concrete expression of our commitment to pursue truth and reconciliation.
Come and be part of the people power for Goldstream, Tuesdays 10 am to noon.
Write a letter.* Tell your friends.
*[a sample letter to the relevant ministries of the BC government can be found here.