Other Regional Work

Here are some of our past projects in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region:

• Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail
• Climate Change Adaptation in the Region
• Arts & Culture
• Local Groups Gear Up!
• Interface Fire Prevention
• Community Engagement and Planning

Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail

Six BC First Nations are envisioning an exciting future for the historic Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail (Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail) running from Quesnel to Bella Coola. They are working on a new management plan proposal for the trail, which is in need of care and restoration.

The Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail stretches 420 km from the confluence of the Fraser and Blackwater Rivers north of Quesnel, through Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, to the Bella Coola Valley. This is part of a network of traditional trails used for many thousands of years by Aboriginal peoples of the Coast and of the Interior.

Historically the trail was important for maintaining ties — and sometimes for waging warfare. It was also a conduit for trading eulachon grease, obsidian, hides, salmon and other goods between First Nations. .

Today the grease trail presents both opportunities and challenges. As always, it connects six First Nations — the Nuxalk (Bella Coola), Ulkatcho (Anahim Lake), Lhoosk’uz Dene (Kluskus), Lhtako Dene (Red Bluff), Nazko and Lheidli T’enneh. In 2011 representatives of these communities formed a working group to explore options for future care and management of the trail.

FBC was pleased to serve as project secretariat for these First Nations in their initial work and collaboration on a new management plan for discussion with the Province. The intent is to manage the trail in a way that brings social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits to their communities and offers better tourism options for consideration.

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Climate Change Adaptation in the Region

Between 1950 and 2001, average winter temperatures in the Cariboo-Chilcotin rose 3.5° C. Winters are projected to grow even warmer, with more precipitation falling as rain than as snow, and summers becoming somewhat drier. A changing climate has ripple effects on ecosystems, the economy and community life.

In recent years, FBC has helped with climate change adaptation planning projects in the region. In 2012 the Cariboo Regional District prepared an adaptation strategy, and Xat'sull/Soda Creek First Nation explored climate adaptation in conjunction with its comprehensive community planning process. Both projects were funded by the BC Regional Adaptation Collaborative.

Take a look at the highlights:

Cariboo Regional District

The Cariboo Regional District is creating a regional development strategy (RDS) to guide development over the next 10-20 years. Within this context, FBC helped facilitate a process to address climate change. Through regional and sub-regional workshops in 2011-2012, the District canvassed possible climate change scenarios and related impacts.

Key questions included: What local government services may be vulnerable to climate change? What are the priorities for action? What adaptation options are available for the RDS and in other plans, strategies and operations?

The resulting climate adaptation strategy, adopted by the Regional District in 2012, addressed such issues as water quality and supply, stormwater and infrastructure management, interface fire management and riparian area management. To learn more, see the BC RAC Adaptation Case Study: Cariboo Regional District and the District’s adaptation strategy that resulted from this work.

Xat'sull / Soda Creek First Nation

In March 2012 two Climate Change Adaptation workshops were held in the community of Xat’sūll (pronounced “Hat'sull”) First Nation, also known as Soda Creek First Nation, approximately 30 km north of Williams Lake. The purpose was to explore how an Interior First Nation could incorporate climate change adaptation into community planning processes and decision-making. Xat’sūll First Nation had a Comprehensive Community Planning process underway, and climate change was an important consideration.

Workshop participants discussed climate trend data as well as changes observed over time, and related impacts on the environment and community. They canvassed services that could be affected, including community planning, housing, snow clearing, roads, water, sewer, emergency services, waste management and more. Possible actions were considered, both for mitigation and adaptation.

Recommendations for next steps included the creation of climate adaptation checklists in planning, evacuation procedures, housing upgrades, including those that are energy and water efficient, and continued work to ensure that watersheds are protected under Aboriginal rights and natural resource agreements. For details, see the BC RAC Adaptation Case Study: Xat’sūll First Nation, summarizing this work.

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Arts & Culture

Central Cariboo Art Route

The Central Cariboo Art Route helps residents and tourists visit the studios of artists and artisans in Williams Lake. A self-guided tour brochure is available online and at tourist information kiosks, at other central locations and online. 

This is a project of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, the Cariboo Regional District, Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin, and by the Community Tourism Opportunities (CTO) program under the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training.

Maureen LeBourdais, FBC’s Regional Manager for the Cariboo-Chilcotin, helped establish the Central Cariboo Art Route tour in 2013.

Williams Lake Diversity Mural

Community art can inspire, empower and unite people. That’s the idea behind the community mural installed at Jubilee Place in Williams Lake in 2013 ― to reflect the creativity and diversity of people in the region.

FBC hosted "Embracing our Diversity," a forum in Williams Lake to explore diversity issues and experiences through art and dialogue — and to introduce the mural project. Both the forum and creation of the mural brought people together in a collaborative fashion, encouraging dialogue on ways to address racism, promote multiculturalism and build a more inclusive community.

Thanks to EmbraceBC Arts (Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation) for funding. Project partners include the Canadian Mental Health Association, Boys and Girls Club, City of Williams Lake and PeerNetBC.

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Local Groups Gear Up!

Community commitment is alive and well in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. Over the years, many grassroots initiatives have emerged in this region. FBC has been able to offer assistance to some, such as by facilitating their early planning meetings and helping founders review options on mandate, governance, funding opportunities and start-up steps.

Here are examples of the work they have underway.

Horsefly River Roundtable

The Roundtable brings together a variety of interests, including citizens, industries, government agencies and forest licensees, to maintain healthy Horsefly community watersheds. The focus is on coordinated management of resources, respect for all concerns and cooperative, positive action. Read more.

Friends of Churn Creek

Friends of Churn Creek is a non-profit society that helps BC Parks achieve a conservation and cultural heritage vision for Churn Creek Protected Area, home to some of BC’s most rare and threatened bunchgrass grasslands.

This area has longstanding importance for First Nations, and it offers opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, biking and wildlife viewing, as well as carefully managed cattle grazing.

FBC was happy to lend a hand to Friends of Churn Creek as they began their work. “Friends” have been involved in invasive plant control and public education. Visit their site: www.friendsofchurn.ca.

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Interface Fire Prevention

Williams Lake and Area Interface Fire Plan

Fire is no respecter of persons, property, or boundaries.  Making communities safer from the risks of wildfire and other natural hazards takes a good plan, coordination of all interests, and a commitment of time and resources.

In 2003 FBC began facilitating sessions on interface fire planning for the City of Williams Lake and surrounding area. We were pleased to see strong participation of responsible agencies and other interests. Thanks to their hard work, a plan was completed and adopted by the City and the Cariboo Regional District in 2005. Today FBC continues to serve as secretariat for the City in the implementation and review of the plan.

The target area for the interface fire plan fans outward from Williams Lake. It includes the area from Deep Creek Reserve to Chimney Valley and east to 150 Mile House. A top priority is to reduce fuel (especially dead trees, brush and wood debris) in interface zones near residential areas.

From 2009-2011, and thanks to provincial funding for community development, crews of resource workers treated 300 hectares of high-risk public lands to help safeguard communities. The work also created the equivalent of 20 full-time positions for a year, of benefit to unemployed resource workers during the economic downturn.

Private sector land users and individual residents also play a critical role in the success of the plan by taking preventive action on their own land.

Quesnel and Area

FBC offered support for the development of a Quesnel and Area Community Wildfire Protection Plan, adopted by the City of Quesnel in 2007. Our role was to facilitate meetings of local government, First Nations, the forest industry, fire experts and the public.

The City of Quesnel has posted the plan on its website, along with videos on wildfire prevention.

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Community Engagement and Planning

FBC frequently helps local government and First Nations with public engagement or planning on local issues, including those that impact community health and safety.

We have, for example, facilitated public meetings on collaborative water governance in the San Jose Watershed, helped the Cariboo Regional District address erosion and flood impacts on the Cottonwood River, and facilitated discussion at Community to Community Forums. Contact us for more information.

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