Hereditary Chief Qwatsinas of the Nuxalk Nation on the Great Bear Rainforest

The Great Bear Rainforest has come up in the news a few times in the last year or so. Most recently was news of the federal government's pledge to commit $30 million towards the 'protection' of the forest. That was matched by the provincial government and other sources, taking the total amount to $120 million. Yet the on-the-ground reality differs greatly from the success stories championed in the media.

Qwatsinas is a hereditary chief who has been involved in the struggle to protect the Great Bear Rainforest for years. Him and his community has been co-opted and lied to by both the Big Greens (Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, et al) and the government. Not a single piece of land in BC has been legally ceded, yet clearcutting is actually increasing. It was bad enough before, but forests are being destroyed at a faster pace so that the logging companies can get all they can before 2009, when they will be forced to scale back a bit.

The Great Bear Rainforest is home to a very unique albino black bear, and it is this beautiful animal, along with innumerable others, who's very existence is threatened by the continued deforestation.

Qwatsinas talks about all of these issues and more. Also, please check the interview below with Zoe Blunt, for more information.

Download 23:42 Recorded on January 24, 2007