The Chilliwack
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Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • T H U R S D AY, A U G U S T 4 , 2 0 1 1
Robert Freeman The Progress Three Sto:lo First Nations fighting in court for the return of lands that once formed part of CFB Chilliwack say a B.C. Supreme Court Justice ruled in their favour last Friday. “This victory clears the way for us to proceed with the litigation to get our lands back,” said Joe Hall, Sto:lo Nation president and spokesman for the Tzeachten, Skowkale and Yakweakwioose First Nations. “It’s certainly a positive step that will hopefully get us the litigation we’ve been trying to get,” he told The Progress on Tuesday. The contested lands are east of Vedder Road, and do not include the Garrison Crossing housing development and other developed lands on the west side of Vedder Road. Hall said a Canada Lands Company application to dismiss the First Nations’ action was thrown out last Friday by the B.C. Supreme Court Justice, who stated that the case “raises serious questions of law and general importance.” But CLC spokesman Randy Fasan questioned the provincial
court’s jurisdiction in a matter that has already been decided by a federal court. He said the Sto:lo lost an appeal of the federal court’s decision in the Supreme Court of Canada. Now the Sto:lo have turned to the provincial court, which on Friday quashed the CLC’s application to dismiss the action sought by the three First Nations. Hall said although an earlier judicial review suggested the First Nations could seek monetar y compensation for the lands, “it’s not the money, but the land that’s important.” The lands in question were once part of existing reser ves that were drastically redrawn and reduced in size by the BC government in 1868 without the consent of the First Nations. In June, 2000, the federal treasury board rejected four native land claims on the military base, and moved to turn the entire 260-hectare property over to the Canada Lands Company for redevelopment. The military base had closed in August, 1997 and thus became surplus federal property Continued: LAND/ p12
Robert Freeman The Progress
Elden Marthyman of Victoria milks his goat on Wednesday afternoon in preparation for the 139th annual Chilliwack Fair which runs Friday to Sunday at Chilliwack Heritage Park. JUSTIN KEITCH/ PROGRESS
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The long weekend was a busy one for police and other emergency responders in the Fraser Valley. Tragically, it was a fatal one for a 60-year-old Washington State man who was killed after he was hit by a vehicle on Chilliwack Lake Road late Sunday. The victim was airlifted to Royal Columbian Hospital with critical injuries after he was hit by the westbound vehicle at about 10:30 p.m. just east of Auchenway Road. Police are not releasing more information until next of kin are notified. An investigation by the Chilliwack RCMP traffic section continues. The long weekend also saw a number of ATV accidents in the Fraser Valley. A 42-year-old Calgary woman was airlifted to Vancouver General with serious injuries after an ATV accident on Saturday near Portia Road north of Hope. Police said it appears inexperience in operating an ATV could have played a role in the accident. A second ATV accident was reported Monday just after 4 p.m. on the west side of Harrison Lake on the Chehalis Forest Service road. Police said a 19-year-old male driver from New Westminster failed to negotiate a turn in the road, and he and a 21-year-old female passenger from Mission were thrown from the ATV. The passenger was airlifted to Royal Columbian Hospital, while the driver was treated on the scene for minor cuts and scrapes. Police said while alcohol did not appear to be involved, excessive speed for the terrain could have been a contributing factor. Meanwhile, Hope RCMP members responded to a report of a stabbing near Yale early Saturday morning. A fight between two males resulted in one man stabbed in the arm.
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