The federal government will contribute $16 million over four years to the Ktunaxa Nation to create an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area in the Qat鈥檓uk area, which includes the Jumbo Valley, in the Purcell Mountains of southeast B.C.

鈥淲e were just advised of this, and of course we are excited about it,鈥� said Kathryn Teneese, chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council, 鈥渂ut we have had no opportunity to finalize the details and our council has not had a chance to discuss this.鈥�

She said she will be able to provide more information toward the middle of September.

An Aug. 26 letter from Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, to Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski, states that the project will include mapping, assessment of cultural and biodiversity values, negotiations to buy out conflicting land tenures, and a stewardship plan.

The letter states that the offer of funding is conditional on the successful negotiation of the project details and the signature of a contribution agreement.

鈥淭he project contains high elevation ecosystems that support headwaters of ecologically-important watersheds that regulate water flow and provide habitat for close to 300 at risk species, as well as old growth ecosystems,鈥� McKenna wrote.

鈥淚t will conserve and protect habitat for wildlife, including five species at risk such as Whitebark Pine (Endangered) and Grizzly Bear (Western Population) (Special Concern). This project will also conserve and protect draft critical habitat for one Priority Species, the Southern Mountain Caribou (Threatened).鈥�

鈥淭his has been a long time coming,鈥� Stetski said. 鈥淚 appreciate the years of hard work by the Ktunaxa Nation and many of my constituents to ensure Qat鈥檓uk is protected for future generations.鈥�

A proposal for a year-round ski resort in the Jumbo Valley has been in various stages of development, court challenges, and controversy for three decades.

In 2015, former provincial environment minister Mary Polak found that the developer, Glacier Resorts Ltd., had not completed enough construction work proceed with the project.

Her decision meant the expiration of an environmental assessment certificate, which the proponent needed to continue developing the resort.

The company took this to court, and earlier this month the B.C. Court of Appeal upheld Polak鈥檚 decision that effectively cancelled the resort project.

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bill.metcalfe@nelsonstar.com
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