COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MAY 2019 Range use permits under greater scrutiny


UNDRIP, reconciliation changing the way Crown leases approved by TOM WALKER


VERNON – The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is “causing a lot of uncertainty,” for range users according to Werner Stump, chair of the North Okanagan Livestock Association’s land stewardship committee. His comments at NOLA’s annual meeting in Vernon, March 26, echoed sentiments expressed earlier this year by BC Cattlemens’ Association general manager Kevin Boon. The province announced its intention to introduce legislation to entrench UNDRIP in BC laws in February’s throne speech. “Undoubtedly, there will be


more First Nations involvement on Crown land but we don’t know what that will look like,” Stump told cattle producers at the meeting. “It may be in the form of who controls our licence, who is the landlord. We are also uncertain as to the implications for private land.”


Stump says ranchers need to develop a better


understanding of traditional First Nation practices in order to play well in the new environment, noting even the way range fencing is being rebuilt is under scrutiny. Typically, First Nation’s archeological assessments have only been required for what are considered ‘high risk’ areas. “Now they are asking for assessments in all areas, and


along a 200 metre-wide path from the fence line,” he noted. “It’s creating a lot of inefficiencies.” “The two key priorities for


the provincial government right now are the economy and reconciliation,” confirmed Rob Dinwoodie, range officer with the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD). “There is not a thing in the


range program that is not a part of reconciliation,” Dinwoodie told cattlemen, but noted, “There is not an UNDRIP blueprint [on how to proceed].” However, he saw the


process as a “really good opportunity to engage. And if you don’t engage, it will be engaged for you.” Most aspects of the range


program, such as grazing licence renewals or range plan renewals, are already referred for First Nations comment, Dinwoodie explained. Typically, this has drawn “very little response” during the 60- day comment period. But that is changing. “Today, we fully anticipate


that every grazing licence that goes out, we are going to get a response back to meet and talk about First Nation interests and rancher interests. And, of course, that usually means several bands,” he said. “Reconciliation has changed the way we do things in our office.”


See RANGE on next page o


The provincial government’s reconciliation initiative is having significant implications for cattlemen who use Crown range for pasturing cattle. LIZ TWAN FILE PHOTO


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