The reopening of Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge was a significant event for Indigenous peoples in the area.
Lands of four bands were impacted, and their members were crucial to rebuilding.
The flood that began Nov. 14, 2021 caused devastation to the lands of the Nooaitch Indian Band, Cook鈥檚 Ferry, Shackan and Nicomen.
BC Highways Senior Project Manager Shawn Clough said about 20 hectares of agricultural land was lost in the corridor.
Shackan was one of the hardest hit.
The Shackan land was dubbed a 鈥榙ebris flow鈥� site, where fertile lands were washed away by mud.
鈥淚t was a very large, devastated site,鈥� said Clough. 鈥淲e worked 24/7.鈥�
Shackan Indian Band Chief Arnold Lambreau, who spoke to media on the day the highway reopened to the public on Nov. 9, 2022, said the flood impacted every aspect of day-to-day life.
鈥淲hen you look at the countryside, and how it鈥檚 been devastated, our animals are not there, our sustenance is not there鈥� At one time, that鈥檚 what we relied on.鈥�
Cook鈥檚 Ferry Chief Christine Minnabarriet echoed Lambreau鈥檚 sentiments, adding that the reopened highway restores the ability to 鈥渃onnect families and bring them home.鈥�
鈥淚t provides connection to each other, our resources, hunting, fishing, gathering, even spiritual, but also to health care and other emergency services.鈥�
Minister of Transportation Rob Fleming said approximately 30 per cent of workers responsible for reopening the highway were Indigenous, providing skilled labour, heavy equipment operation and environmental and archaeological work.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 massively over what you would normally see on a heavy construction project. I think (about) sustainability and Indigenous participation in maintaining that corridor going forward,鈥� said Fleming.
鈥淐hief Minnabarriet talked about opportunities that may come out of this natural disaster. It was through the restoration and of course it will be in the years to come.鈥�
Jake.courtepatte@kelownacapnews.com
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