First Nations

Brian Harris
Ministry of Environment
Interagency Collaboration
Disease Mitigation Events
2000-2006 MOE and South Okanagan Bighorn Recovery Project Actions:
• Bighorn habitat analysis + enhancement (3 projects completed then
overtaken by 2003 wildfire)
• Risk rated all farms (risk of contact between wild and domestic sheep ) +
mitigation
• Monitored population dynamics of south Okanagan bighorns
• Monitored the bighorn herd health
• High risk farm mitigation:
•
- 2 lateral compensation agreements (livestock replacement)+ covenants
•
- 2 voluntary sold flocks
•
- 1 double fencing trial site
• Local Stakeholder and Conservation Organization Support (GOABC, BCWF,
WSSBC, TLC, TNT, SOSA)
• International Support: State Agencies (more letters pending), National
FNAWS, Eastern FNAWS, Washington FNAWS, GSC/Ovis)
• NWSGC resolution (ongoing)
• MOE is willing to destroy BHS when contact with domestics is made
• Interagency bylaw collaboration
Disease Mitigation Events
2000-2006 MAL Actions:
• Studied the issue with MOE and BHS advocates
• Recognized that contact between domestic sheep and BHS is
dangerous for the BHS
• Helped draft a species separation bylaw amendment
• Farm Bylaw to allow implementation of amendment is under
consideration by MAL administration
• AEPI (Agriculture Environmental Partnership Initiative) funding
• Interagency bylaw collaboration
RDOS Actions:
• 2 resolutions + interagency bylaw collaboration
First Nations Actions:
• 9 Resolutions
Affected Areas
Recommendations
• Bylaws pending for Electoral Areas C, D2, and that part of E
draining into Penticton Creek, would be amended to include a
Schedule covering the requirements of new farms considering
raising domestic sheep within the "high risk" Zone:
– For commercial producers, the flock size must be at least 25
head and the property must be fenced so as to prevent nose to
nose contact between domestic and bighorn sheep.
– Children wishing to raise sheep as pets or show must be
members of a 4H club and contain their sheep inside "no
contact" fencing.
– No other flock sizes of domestic sheep are permitted in the high
risk zone.
John Kruger
First Nations Resolutions
First Nations Resolutions
First Nations
Okanagan Nation Alliance
– In November, 2004, the Okanagan Nation Alliance resolved “to support the exclusion of
domestic sheep and goats from all areas within the Okanagan Nation territory that represent
known or potential future wild bighorn sheep and mountain goat habitats”.
Westbank First Nations (Indian Band) – Same as above
Penticton Indian Band – Same as above
Osoyoos Indian Band – Same as above
Lower Similkameen Indian Band – Same as above
Upper Similkameen Band – Same as above
Union of BC Indian Chiefs
- Similar to ONA above, but all of BC (FN territories)
First Nations Summit
- Similar to ONA above, but all of BC (FN territories)
Assembly of First Nations
- Similar to ONA above, but all of Canada (FN territories)
First Nations
9ACCEPTABLE INTERIM MEASURE OR SHORTTERM GOAL
9LONG-TERM GOAL - Appropriate government
legislation throughout wild sheep and mountain goat
habitats in North America
9An example of a shared environmental concern
9A great collaborative effort to protect a specific species
(very few examples of this)