The problem of unauthorized mushroom pickers on Skwl膩x lands has escalated to the point of threatened violence and requested intervention from the province.
Each spring, Skwl膩x te Secwepemc煤l虛ecw (formerly Little Shuswap Band) members traditionally harvest edible mushrooms on its lands. This year, the band said it is having increasing problems with outside pickers trespassing and not respecting the land or people.
In the wake of the Bush Creek East wildfire, the Band reports the situation has worsened with an abundance of morels that retail for about $50 a pound. The Skwl膩x say if the mushrooms are on their land, they should have first rights to harvest them for traditional medicines and uses.
含羞草研究社淎 majority of the pickers are from outside the region. They aren含羞草研究社檛 aware of the historical background,含羞草研究社� said Kukpi7 (Chief) James Tomma in a May 3 media release, adding the situation has gone well beyond just respect. 含羞草研究社淭he weekend of April 27 to 28, there were two incidents involving pickers threatening Guardians with knives and firearms. As well, during their picking, they are setting up camps, chopping down trees, starting fires and leaving garbage.含羞草研究社�
Tomma said he含羞草研究社檚 not only concerned for band members, but also the trespassing pickers as the land is still in a dangerous state post wildfire. He said that last week, as SteS Guardians 含羞草研究社� stewards of the territory who protect the land for everyone 含羞草研究社� were talking with one picker, 含羞草研究社渁 second one walked into the forest and fell down a hole.含羞草研究社�
Given the escalating situation, the Band has asked the provincial government to send conservation officers, non-commissioned officers (NCO) and Ministry of Environment protection crews to help.
As of May 3, the province had sent some officers to survey the situation, and are meeting to come up with a plan of action, which Skwl膩x wants to be included in. The Band has already suggested check points, warning signs in the area and that people need to have a permit to pick, which would be monitored at the check points. They have also mentioned the possibility of putting up fences or barricades on the Lee Creek forest service road to limit access.
Tomma added that an action plan needs to be implemented not only for his Band, but for all areas affected by wildfire. There含羞草研究社檚 a BC Morel Mushroom Pickers Facebook page of people showing their harvests and sharing the 含羞草研究社渉ot spots,含羞草研究社� with the Shuswap and West Kelowna featured a few times.
含羞草研究社淭he mushroom pickers are the first of what could be a long, confrontational summer in this forest and others,含羞草研究社� Tomma said. 含羞草研究社淩ecreational users are going to be next to try and utilize the area, then the increased fire season 含羞草研究社� which is underway in some areas 含羞草研究社� followed by the fall mushroom season.含羞草研究社�
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