None of the statements made by eco-activist Zoe Blunt are true, says Dorothy Hunt, band manager for the Pacheedaht First Nation in Port Renfrew. “We are insulted by the behaviour of these so-called environmentalists, “ she said.”
Blunt stated in a press release that band members were calling for a non-confidence vote to remove their band council; that meetings are held behind closed doors and most members do not favour the proposal put forth by Marine Trail Holdings.
Hunt said the chief and council met, after an article in the Times Colonist, and “they have given their support to this development on PRIVATE lands.”
Hunt said there are three band members making all the noise and they never come to meetings or support anything that chief and council do.
Hunt said the chief and council have met with RCMP as their words are slanderous and libel.
“There are so many positive things going on – a new admin building, the start of the new health clinic, taking 72 per cent of people off of Social Assistance, training programs for the youth, etc. “We cannot take the focus off of the positive things going on in our community. The three band members that are in with the environmentalists don’t participate in any of our positive activities that are community driven,” said Hunt in an e-mail in response to the article sent out by Zoe Blunt.
Two public hearings are being held on Sept. 6-7 at Edward Milne Community School (5 p.m.) in regard to Ender Ilkay’s proposed recreational/tourism development.
The entire controversy began when the province allowed Western Forest Products to remove land from TFL 25 on their deeded property. Some of the lands were then legally sold to Ender Ilkay.