I accepted written notice from the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, dated August 28 served by Ryan Wainright, emergency program manager at the SLRD (he said they are short staffed and multi-tasking) that requested I remove two protest banners from a rock bluff above the Sea to Sky Highway at Britannia Beach.
Apparently the RCMP feels they are a distraction to drivers and pose a hazard.
While I do not consider the SLRD and the by-law cited the appropriate administrative authority, I have been advised to present at the next regular council meeting and provide an opportunity for a variance to be granted in consideration of the fact that these are unceded territories and all protocol of First Nations has been followed.
The rock bluff upon which these protest banners are erected is a sacred historic site used by Squamish Nation as a point of demarcation where those that were in breach of protocol and in violation of community, were at times beheaded and their heads displayed on stakes in warning. I have observed protocol in my use of this sacred site by notifying Squamish Nation and using appropriate etiquette of drumming and song.
The protest against the LNG policy of the B.C. Liberal government is misguided and constitutes ecocide. It is the obligation of every citizen as trustee in stewardship of our collective resources to resist these efforts to defile Mother Earth. This sacred site is most appropriate to make that statement. The threat to remove the signage or face possible further action by the regional district is both arbitrary and discriminatory. This is a political move to suppress public opposition to a corporate policy. It goes to the content of the text. We will not be so easily silenced.
Ralph Fulber
Britannia Beach
