As a result of Madam Justice Brown’s January acceptance of Tolko’s archaeology proposal to log the Browns Creek Watershed, a decision that is definitively contrary to the Okanagan Indian Band’s wishes, it is not just the Band’s archaeological history that is at stake but their drinking water and constitutional rights. On February 20, the Okanagan Indian Band holds an emergency General Band Meeting where a motion is unanimously passed to establish checkpoints stopping Tolko employees, crew or equipment from entering their community as well as establishing a blockade. On February 21, Tolko insists they will come in the morning regardless of if the blockade exists or not; UBCIC releases a statement supporting the Okanagan Indian Band. This event is crucial to Indigenous rights struggles in BC because if the BC Supreme Court can override precedent, it is dangerous for all BC communities’ rights and title. Though the courts ruled in favour of Tolko (with more archaeological assessment), the RCMP would not intervene (despite Tolko’s efforts for an enforcement order to jail Chiefs and other land defenders) and the blockade held until spring thaw – the end of logging season.

Wilderness Committee. 2010. “Okanagan Indian Band Seeks Water Protection.” March 27, 2010. https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/news/okanagan-indian-band-seeks-water-protection#:~:text=Many%20appreciate%20what%20the%20Okanagan,and%20preventing%20logging%20until%20spring.

Union of BC Indian Chiefs. 2010. “Union of BC Indian Chiefs Supports Okanagan Indian Band in Browns Creek Faceoff.” Press release. February 21, 2010. http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/News_Releases/UBCICNews02211001.htm.

Union of BC Indian Chiefs. 2010b. “Tolko Seeks Court Enforcement Order to Jail Chiefs.” Press release. February 25, 2010. http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/News_Releases/UBCICNews02251001.htm.