Cheam First Nation says a company operating a composting facility on its lands is working with Environment Canada on remediating any damage it may have caused. 

Cheam officials sounded the alarm in January, issuing a press release that levelled accusations at leaseholder Fraser Valley Renewables. 

A public statement at the time said that testing completed by federal officers showed that "the leachate from the composting piles is considered acutely lethal to fish...It saddens us to know that while working so hard to protect the waters and land around our traditional territory this encounter happened so close to home."

That press release was changed in March to remove much of the original wording and accusations. 

The statement now explains that "the facility鈥檚 operator/owner is working with Environment Canada to determine the necessary steps to manage the site and remediate any damage found in compliance with applicable laws and standards.

"Cheam is also working with the property owner within our Laws to ensure the site is properly managed." 

The land was leased out by the certificate-of-possession holder to Fraser Valley Renewables.

The press release now states that "the health of the land and sacred waters globally is in a critical state. We are seeing an exponential increase in the cumulative impacts of pollution, industry, and the destruction of habitat caused by development." 

The site where the piles of compost-like material is on the eastern side of Cheam IR #1. Cheam officials say the pile includes "small pieces of plastic, metal, and wood." 

It was believed by nation officials that the material consisted of 鈥榦vers鈥� which is a poor-quality compost-like material that may pose a significant harm to the environment, according to the update. As a result they say the operation was required to cease any discharge, address the impact on the environment, and prevent further discharge, with a stop work order.

鈥淭his is our land, we must care for everything that belongs to us," is how Cheam law was translated roughly into English from Halq'em茅ylem.

Fraser Valley Renewables has disputed allegations made by Cheam First Nation, and underlined that the operation did not include composting. 

"Fraser Valley Renewables wants to be clear that there has never been active composting at the Cheam First Nation site," they stated, explaining the company "re-diverts usable food product to its highest and best use, utilizing anerobic digesters and fresh food for animal feed." 

These products would go to a landfill and would "stay in the landfill waste stream," without the company's work, they said.

"Fraser Valley Renewables believes that most of the products which go to the landfill could and should be reused to a higher and better use," they added. "The compost Fraser Valley Renewables produces has been used to increase farm yields and nutrient amendments to soil." 

Cheam officials added they have worked with partners and government agencies on files as diverse as mining, environment, and agriculture in the past year, demonstrating leadership on the changes that are needed.

When it comes to the environment, leadership is cognizant "these are far-reaching issues and change doesn鈥檛 come without a cost."

Environment Canada officials confirmed they were on-site in late 2024 to investigate.

"Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) takes pollution incidents and threats to the environment very seriously," according to an emailed response to questions about the compost operation.

Enforcement officers are the ones responsible for verifying that companies and individuals comply with the Fisheries Act, and prohibit  "the deposit of deleterious substances into water frequented by fish."

Environment officials conducted an inspection at the site on Dec. 6, 2024 to verify compliance with the Fisheries Act.

"When there is sufficient evidence of an alleged violation, enforcement officers take appropriate action in accordance with the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for the Habitat Protection and Pollution Prevention Provisions of the Fisheries Act.

"As this is an active enforcement file, ECCC Enforcement cannot provide further information at this time."

Cheam First Nation is part of the Pel贸lxw tribe of St贸:l艒 Xwelmexw peoples and the larger Coast Salish Indigenous peoples of the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Northern Washington state.

EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE: This article has been updated, effective March 31, 2025, to reflect revised statements and claims originally made by Cheam First Nation that erroneously placed allegations of wrongdoing against Fraser Valley Renewables and Fraser Valley Agri-Waste Solutions Ltd.