OUTLAW EAGLE MANUFACTURING

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Anyone here utilize Skooks Landing at Fireside, BC to access the Muskwa Kechika Park, Kechika, Gataga, Frog and Turnagain Rivers? There is currently some Treaty Agreements taking place that will possibly take away the boat access. Please also see the attached map files.

If you are affected by this, please use the template attached and email, email .. EMAIL the provided email addresses.

To: Tim.Sheldan@gov.bc.ca; Sally.Barton@gov.bc.ca; Kevin.Kriese@gov.bc.ca; Neilane.Mayhew@gov.bc.ca; Corinne.Shepheard@gov.bc.ca; Jason.Lawson@gov.bc.ca; Karrilyn.Vince@gov.bc.ca; Dale.Morgan@gov.bc.ca; Doug.Caul@gov.bc.ca

Re: Skooks Landing on the Liard River

May 24, 2016

To: Tim Sheldon, Deputy Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

The BC Kaska Dena and the province of British Columbia entered into an Incremental Treaty Agreement on April 10, 2013.
The purpose of this agreement is to amend certain provisions of the Incremental Treaty Agreement in respect to Lands referenced in that agreement.
One of the lands identified in the documents is Fireside, which encompasses Skooks Landing.
(Please see attached map)
Skooks Landing is located at Mile 522 (Km 835) on the Alaska Highway. Which is a large gravel boat launch on the Liard River, which is used to access the Kechika, Gataga, Turnagain and Frog Rivers.
Skooks Landing is the only boat launch access in the Northern Rockies that gives hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiast’s access to these rivers and points further into the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, which is 6.4 million hectares, and over 700 kilometers of waterways. Removing the boat access restricts most of the public from ever accessing these portions of the park. Relocating the boat launch is not an option, as just downstream is Whirlpool Canyon, and upstream are the Cranberry Rapids, both of which are un-navigable waters.
This parcel of land at Skooks Landing is currently under a “Section 16” (see attached marked map showing the existing Section 16), which stands for Use, Recreation, and Enjoyment of the Public reserve. Once a “Section 16” is in place, no other Ministry is supposed to touch that land for any reason unless there is consultation and acceptance. The “Section 16” in place for Skooks Landing was put in place September 1976 with a 99 year lease attached to it. (please see attached map). This section of land consists of 180 hectares or 444.79 acres.
This parcel as previously mentioned is currently under a “Section 16 Reserve”, and should be kept as such. This is an important boat launch that can see upwards of 70 boats in one day during certain periods of the year. Although currently not developed, the volume of users has started developmental planning, including building a parking lot. Due to the remote location, if the parking lot is not in view of the river it increases the risk of vandalism and theft. The location of “Site 2” (see attached map) is the ideal location for this parking lot.
This also has serious potential to create issues between the Kaska and the general public at a later date if “Site 2” (see attached map) is transferred, as there has been historical conflict here including the Kaska installing a gate to block residents from using the boat launch. We feel that if there is no cultural significance to “Site 2”(see attached map), transferring this land as part of the IBA provides a strategic advantage for blocking public access at a later date.
We believe that although a 30m access right of way was removed from the land transfer, a current parcel noted as “Site 2” on the Map is unacceptable. “Site 2” in the Maps we have provided, is on the east side of the access to the boat launch. Its total size is 1.13 hectares.
There is sufficient crown land available on the north boundary of the current land parcel, and outside of the current License of Occupation for a waste disposal site (see included map) that is suitable for transfer, with no current land reserve designation. This would also allow the parcel of land to be one contiguous parcel, rather than two separate parcels and would continue to fulfill agreement related to the quantum of land for transfer.
I would also like to state that there has been no transparency to stakeholders and the public related to potential land agreements with First Nations. There needs to be opportunity for stakeholders and the public to comment on lands identified for potential transfer to First Nations. There needs to be preservation to access on existing roads and trails as well as access to waterways.

Regards,

PLEASE INSERT YOUR NAME HERE

Tim.Sheldan@gov.bc.ca - Deputy Minister (FLNRO)
Sally.Barton@gov.bc.ca - Assistant Deputy Minister (FLNRO)
Kevin.Kriese@gov.bc.ca - Assistant Deputy Minister (FLNRO)
Neilane.Mayhew@gov.bc.ca - Associate Deputy Minister/Chief Operating Officer (MARR)
Corinne.Shepheard@gov.bc.ca - Senior Negotiator (MARR)
Jason.Lawson@gov.bc.ca - Manager, Major Projects (FLNRO)
Karrilyn.Vince@gov.bc.ca - Regional Executive Director, Northeast BC (FLNRO)
Dale.Morgan@gov.bc.ca - Regional Manager, Northeast (MARR)
Doug.Caul@gov.bc.ca - Deputy Minister (MARR)