State of Emergency declaration wanted by FNLC for Big Bar landslide

PRINCE GEORGE — The First Nations Leadership Council is calling for action by the provincial and federal government to finish clearing up an obstruction at the Big Bar landslide. That issue caused minimal salmon returns earlier this year and the Council says if it’s not cleared soon, it could cause more losses moving forward, or even extinction.

In late spring and throughout the summer, concerns were rising over a landslide along the Fraser River at Big Bar just north of Lillooet. It kept hundreds of thousands of salmon stock from returning tributaries. Now, First Nations are doubling down on their worries, calling for an immediate declaration of a state of emergency for all levels of government. And within the next 60 days, the removal of the physical obstruction at the Big Bar landslide.

In a statement, Lydia Hwitsum of the First Nations Summit Political Executive said, “the remaining blockage will undoubtedly impact upstream First Nations’ access to food sources next year and has the potential to severely impair future cycles of salmon stocks which will be cause for huge losses to First Nations, commercial and sport fisheries in future years.”