An Indigenous woman in the Slocan Valley is taking on the province and the U.S.-based Sinixt leadership over the authority to look after a local historical site.
Two years ago, the B.C. government signed a memorandum of understanding with Marilyn James, authorizing her to be the caretaker of a significant archeological location known as the Vallican site.
The Sinixt people at the Colville Confederated Tribes in Washington State disputed this agreement, stating that only they, not James, have the authority to contract with the province about the site.
Now the B.C. government has rescinded its agreement with James.
In an email to the Nelson Star, a spokesperson for the B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport said on May 18 the Heritage Branch provided James with notice that the memorandum of understanding would be terminated in 30 days.
含羞草研究社淚ndigenous engagement on finding a replacement caretaker for the site will be pursued, to address concerns that a broad discussion on candidates had not occurred,含羞草研究社� the email said. 含羞草研究社淗eritage Branch will continue to work to ensure the site is protected and doesn含羞草研究社檛 fall into disrepair.含羞草研究社�
In 1987 the Ministry of Highways began construction of a new road at Vallican in the Slocan Valley. Construction was halted when many Sinixt artifacts, skeletal remains and pit-house depressions were uncovered.
Since then the Sinixt, including James, have repatriated and reburied 64 ancestral remains at the site. James has given tours for school groups and the public, and overseen other cultural activities there including the construction of a traditional pit house.
James declined to be interviewed for this story, but the Autonomous Sinixt, a West Kootenay organization centred around James, in a news release dated June 30, said that James has occupied the site in response to the province含羞草研究社檚 cancellation of the agreement.
含羞草研究社淎s of June 8, 2022, James has moved onto the Vallican site in a (re)-continued occupation,含羞草研究社� the news release states, adding that 含羞草研究社淛ames says she has no plans to leave the Vallican Camp and will continue to uphold her cultural responsibilities by maintaining her occupation and caretaking role of the ancestors at the Vallican Heritage site.含羞草研究社�
No on at the Colville Confederated Tribes was willing to be interviewed for this story, but in a July 6 news release, they supported the province含羞草研究社檚 revocation of the contract with James and stated that James does not represent the Sinixt.
含羞草研究社淎t no time have the Sn虛 蕰a媒ckstx appointed her as a 含羞草研究社榤atriarch含羞草研究社� or any other kind of representative for our people, nor have we given her responsibility to care for our ancestors at Vallican,含羞草研究社� wrote Andy Joseph Jr., chairman of the Sinixt Confederacy and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. 含羞草研究社淢s. James represents herself, and an unidentified group of non-Indigenous people, not the Sn虛 蕰a媒ckstx.含羞草研究社�
Joseph referred to James含羞草研究社� occupation of the Vallican site as 含羞草研究社渁 form of cultural appropriation.含羞草研究社�
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bill.metcalfe@nelsonstar.com
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