NEAR VERNON – Decades after they were used in military exercises, potentially dangerous unexploded explosive ordnances (UXO) still remain on lands owned by the Okanagan Indian Band. Federally funded work to clean up the areas is on-going but it’s not happening quickly enough for the band.
“[It’s been] near 25 years since [the Department of National Defence] left and we are still stuck with storing their dangerous goods on our reserve lands,” says chief Byron Louis.
The band would like to see the clearance become more of a priority.
“We are just hoping to raise awareness that the government ought to be helping us more in clearing UXO from the reserve,” says Darcy Aubin the band’s director of lands and economic development.
The Okanagan Indian Band hopes to see the land developed or used for housing.
“We have a real shortage of member housing here so one of the first phases of development would likely be some sort of residential development mixed in with a little bit of commercial,” says Aubin. “The uses really are endless because of the vistas from the lands that we are talking about are beautiful.”
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However, according to the band, the UXO are standing in the way.
“We can’t really do anything with the land until it is cleared,” says Aubin. “Getting the UXO out of the ground is one issue, then you have to deal with all the contamination from those actual UXO in the soil.”
No one from the Department of National Defence (DND) was available to for an interview Thursday, instead they supplied a written statement. In it the department says work has been done to clear “the most heavily impacted part of the former Madeline Lake Range.”
“UXO surveys are also being conducted at the former Goose Lake Range, in order to identify any other potential areas of concern. To support the Okanagan Indian Band’s future development plans, DND will continue to assess and initiate clearances once the Band has finalized its economic development implementation plan and timelines.”
Aubin says he feels staff with the DND and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada want to help address the UXO issue.
“Their hands are tied as well because they’ve got an annual budget that is set way before they even know about it. We are just hoping that the powers that be increase that annual budget for not only us but first nations across the country that are dealing with this UXO,” he says.
In the meantime the band expects UXO clearance work to resume again in the spring as soon as weather conditions permit.
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