Okanagan First Nations does not want Tolko to log an area that they feel is culturally significant.

Tolko Industries, based in Vernon, B.C., plans to begin harvesting timber at Browns Creek, west of Okanagan Lake. This area has been the focus of a legal dispute between the Okanagan Nation and the provincial government for a decade.

Fabian Alexis, Okanagan Indian Band chief, insists Tolko does not have a right to log because of the ongoing legal dispute over land title issues.

The case arose from logging launched by the band at Browns Creek area in 1999. While the Okanagan band logged based on what it saw as aboriginal rights, the Ministry of Forests issued a stop-work order and commenced a legal action to enforce the order.

Since then, there have been various court decisions in favour of the band and the government.

Tolko Industries regional manager Jim Baskerville says the company delayed activities for more than 28 months in recognition of the importance of the Brown's Creek area to the band.

But he says there can be no more delays because the pine beetle-killed trees will decline without recoverable value and the wildfire risk will grow.

Read more:
Band looks to block logging by Tolko (Vernon Morning Star)
B.C. timber company and First Nation at loggerheads over logging plan (Canadian Press)