Lands Department
The Yale First Nation Lands department is responsible for dealing with all land related issues on Yale First Nation Land as well as the traditional territory. The lands manager liaises with the Chief, Council, and the YFN community, to keep the membership informed of current land issues.
Correspondence with forest licensees, mining companies, and other industry occurs on a daily basis. Referrals from different companies, BC Hydro, BC Transmission Corporation, and government ministries such as the Ministry of Forests and Range, are processed on an ongoing basis. If Yale First Nation has an interest in what a certain company is doing on the traditional territory, comments are provided to that company, and there is an attempt to address the issues through meetings, letters, and dialogue.
Forestry
The Yale First Nation signed a Forest and Range Agreement with the Ministry of Forests and Range in 2006. The Agreement provided revenue sharing dollars, and access to 20,900 cubic meters of timber over 5 years. Although this is a relatively small amount of timber, YFN hopes to harvest it economically to create revenue and jobs in the community. Market conditions to date have not been ideal for the species, quality and volume of timber we have; therefore, we have not harvested it yet. However, when the market improves, we will send the wood to market.
The Yale First Nation is also involved in an equal share Community Forest Partnership with the Fraser Valley Regional District and the District of Hope. A corporation, the Cascade Lower Canyon Community Forest Corporation (CLCCFC), has been set up to manage the day-to-day business of the license. This corporation consists of 3 appointed representatives of each partner. The Community Forest License will be a 25 year, renewable license to cut 34,300 cubic meters of timber per year. The license, being area based, allows the group to actively manage all resources in the operating area, not just timber. Some other resources to be managed for are recreation, non-timber forest products, culture/heritage, wildlife, etc.
Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Project
The British Columbia Transmission Corporation is proposing to build a new 500KV transmission line from Merritt to Port Coquitlam. This project is called the Interior to Lower Mainland (ILM) Transmission Project and is designed to supply more power to the lower mainland that will be needed by 2014.
The YFN lands department has been actively involved in the planning of the project through meetings, written correspondence, traditional use studies, etc. The new line will take a route through the YFN territory similar to the 3 transmission lines that exist today. A significant amount of clearing, logging, structural engineering, road construction, etc, will need to be done to complete the project. A large company will be contracted by the BC Transmission Corporation to design and build the new transmission line.
The original schedule of the project identified the spring of 2010 to be the start of the 3-5 year construction phase. However, the project is currently stalled due to court action taken by some First Nations. At this time we know there has been a delay, but are not sure for how long. If and when the project moves forward, the YFN will be offered contracting, training, and capacity building job opportunities. The employment opportunities will be provided by the design build company contracted by the BC Transmission Corporation.
The project has been through the BC Environmental Assessment process and received a certificate. It has also been given the blessing of the BC Utilities Commission through its issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. However, these are the certificates under review due to court action taken by some First Nations.
Reserve and Land Management
The land department deals with all land transactions that occur on our reserve lands. Applications for land allotments and land transfers can be made to the lands manager. The lands manager is here to help with paperwork, legal descriptions of land, mapping, etc, as well as liaison with the Chief and Council and the Department of Indian Affairs.
Contact:
Doug Hansen
doug@yalefirstnation.ca