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Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory - "Forest companies like Weyerhaeuser and the provincial government through the Ministry of Forests must fully accommodate Aboriginal Title interests when they contemplate timber allocations. Today’s blockade is only a warning shot of what promises to be a protracted engagement of the Osoyoos Indian Band with Weyerhaeuser and the Ministry of Forests." Chief Stewart Phillip spoke from the blockade today at Weyerhaeuser’s Okanagan Falls mill.

Today’s blockade is to support the Osoyoos Indian Band’s efforts to access sufficient timber supply for their band-owned and band-operated sawmill. The blockade was manned with 80 people from the Osoyoos Indian Band, the Okanagan Nation Alliance and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs.

"The Osoyoos Indian Band has been a patient and willing participant of discussions with the Ministry of Forests and Weyerhaeuser but are now incredibly frustrated as these discussions have yielded no results. Both the Ministry of Forests and Weyerhaeuser must be reminded that our Aboriginal Title is constitutionally affirmed and protected. When the lack of results is taken into context of court decisions like Delgamuuk’w, Taku River Tlingit and the most recent Haida decision, it is understandable why the Osoyoos Indian Band cannot tolerate the shameless approach of the Ministry of Forests and Weyerhaeuser and be forced to respond with direct action."

"Weyerhaeuser and the Ministry of Forests must respond in a significant manner to immediately address the issue of timber allocations." Chief Phillip concluded, "It is becoming all the more apparent that direct actions, like today’s blockade, will play out time and time again throughout this province as long as the provincial government and third parties refuse to fully accommodate our Aboriginal Title and Rights."

For further information, please contact Guujaaw, President of the Haida Nation, phone: 604-603-4282.