ENDERBY – The future of a former Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) corridor between Sicamous and Armstrong is a little more certain today. The Splatsin First Nation announced they’ve acquired over 29 acres of land in two parcels along the discontinued CP lines. The first nation says the land deal is the result of out-of-court negotiations following legal action by the first nation against the federal government and CP.
The two sections of the defunct railway obtained by the first nation go through Splatsin Indian Reserves. One parcel is south of Enderby the other section is south of Sicamous.
Chief Wayne Christian says they are looking at all options for the former rail corridor land including using the land for a walking and cycling pathway.
“If you look at this region it is economically very poor,” says Christian. “It really relies on the tourist industry in this part of the world and so how can maybe we take this and ramp it up so it has a benefit to the whole region economically?”
The first nation plans on leading local efforts to acquire the remainder of the corridor. Christian says meetings with municipalities and further discussions with CP are planned.
The Shuswap Trail Alliance is celebrating the news
“We are delighted they’ve come to a successful agreement,” says executive director Phil McIntyre-Paul.
The group has long suggested the former rail lines could be used as a greenway for cycling and walking.
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“Imagine being able to cycle from Sicamous all the way to Armstrong and then potentially even connect through to Vernon and then the new potential rail trail corridor from Vernon to Kelowna. That suddenly is a game changer. There is a whole new destination tourism experience that never existed before,” says McIntyre-Paul.
Read More: CN deal reached but Okanagan Indian Band excluded
The Mayor of Enderby is also welcoming the news of a land deal. Greg McCune suggests the land could also be used to widen Highway 97.
“The current highway would be southbound two lanes and then possibly northbound on this railway right of way,” says McCune.
Something McCune suggests doesn’t preclude a walking and cycling corridor.
The former rail lines future remains to be determined but citing a recent Supreme Court of Canada decision Christian says first nations consent will be required no matter who owns the land or what the land is used for.
Read More: Top court grants land title to B.C.First Nation
“That whole line goes through our traditional territory right from Armstrong all the way to Sicamous and it has significant cultural heritage sites,” says Christian. “I think we are looking at the bigger picture in terms of how do we engage the local municipal governments and other stakeholders in what we do for the good of the whole region.”
But CP says it hasn’t made any commitments for the rest of the rail corridor and is still looking at all its options.
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