FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
      
   Logging Equipment Removal from Nahmint Valley Allowed by Tseshaht Grassroots   
   Road Closure   
      
   Unceded Tseshaht Traditional Territory (October 7, 2014) The Tseshaht   
   Grassroots community members that have closed the industrial use access of   
   Gracie Main from Sterling Arm into the Nahmint Valley have today allowed   
   logging contractors to begin to    
   remove their logging equipment from the British Columbia Timber Sales Areas in   
   Nahmint Valley.    
      
   The Tseshaht First Nation, in formal consultation with BCTS, did not consent   
   to any timber harvesting without the development of an agreed upon cedar   
   management plan and inventory that was agreed upon on September 20, 2013.    
      
   The Tseshaht Grassroots members recognize that the contractors working in   
   these cut blocks are caught in the middle of this dispute between the BC Crown   
   Corporation of BCTS and Tseshaht First Nation. The grassroots Tseshahts that   
   peacefully enacted and    
   enforced the road closure since last Thursday, Oct 2, 2014 are not opposed to   
   logging in Tseshaht Traditional Territory. However, the Tseshaht members do   
   stand strong and committed to ensuring that any logging in Tseshaht lands be   
   responsible, informed,    
   and with Tseshaht consent.   
      
   The removal of the logging the equipment of contractors is premised upon good   
   faith of the grassroots Tseshahts following a meeting in the Tseshaht First   
   Nation Band Office on Monday, October 6, 2014 between representatives of the   
   Tseshaht grassroots    
   members that have taken this peaceful action to protect their cultural   
   heritage resources and forests, Tseshaht Chief and Council representatives,   
   BCTS officials and an observer from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural   
   Resources Operations South    
   Island Resource District.    
      
   This good faith is based upon assurances from BCTS that they are willing to   
   seek a resolution to this matter via the Minister of Forests and that they   
   will continue to ask the contractors and licensees to respectfully honor the   
   road closure and stoppage    
   of timber harvesting activities in the Nahmint Valley initiated by the   
   Tseshaht grassroots community.   
      
   The Tseshaht grassroots members have allowed contractors today to begin   
   removal of their equipment. Discussions and agreements with other contractors   
   with equipment in the Nahmint Valley have also been held. Additional removal   
   of their equipment is to    
   take place on Wednesday.    
      
   The removal of contractor logging equipment effectively stops the timber   
   harvesting in the Nahmint Valley that had begun in a breach of good faith in   
   formal consultation and accommodation meetings with BCTS and Tseshaht First   
   Nation.   
      
   In addition to the removal of logging and road building equipment, the   
   Tseshaht grassroots community members have also agreed to allow BCTS scheduled   
   road safety culvert work to be done in the interest of public safety. The   
   Tseshaht community members    
   have also agreed to allow tree planting crews into the Nahmint Valley for   
   reforestation purposes.   
      
   The Tseshaht grassroots community will be monitoring the timber harvesting   
   areas in the Nahmint Valley. Should there be any work in the blocks such as   
   falling of trees, road building or attempts to remove the timber that has been   
   cut the road will be    
   closed again to all industrial traffic. Additional roads in the Tseshaht   
   Traditional Territory will be included in the response of the Tseshaht   
   grassroots community should such an unfortunate situation arise.   
      
   It is the hope of the Tseshaht grassroots community that this gesture of good   
   will to the contractors that have their equipment in limbo will accept this   
   gesture and respect the needs of Tseshaht to exercise responsibilities for the   
   next generations.    
      
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