CAWSTON — A discovery of ancient human bones in a Cawston orchard four months ago has turned into a war of words. The local Indian band said the B.C. government was negligent, but the government said the band didn’t do the proper paper work.
READ MORE: Possible ancient burial site unearthed in Cawston orchard
The Lower Similkameen Indian Band has been waiting to get an archaeological permit from the B.C. government since the bones were first discovered in February.
“We’re getting very frustrated,” said Chief Keith Crow. “It’s been just over four months and nothing’s happened. The site is just sitting there. We go out there every time it rains just to check that no bones have been uncovered.”
Chief Crow said there were at least three ancestors buried there, and the priority now is to collect the bones and repatriate them on the site.
He said this situation was entirely avoidable because this site was reported to the heritage branch twice — once in the 1950’s and again in the 1970’s. But for some reason, this slipped through the cracks so the site was never registered.
“Honestly, I’m very frustrated and to find out that the province was negligent, is my opinion,” said Chief Crow.
But the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations said the matter is up for debate.
“There is some dispute as to whether a 1952 map (which was updated in 1972) of an early record of the area should have been recorded in the provincial inventory.”
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“No archaeological record was made from this map as it was not feasible to locate the site based on the vagueness of the map,” the Ministry wrote in a statement.
It added that it also wants to find a respectful and expeditious solution.
Chief Crow would like the government step in with financial help,.
“There’s no permit in place. The money part is just not there. To do all this work is not cheap to say the least.”
The Ministry said it hasn’t received a permit application from the band that meets the standards and requirements of the Heritage Conservation Act.
The bones were unearthed when an orchardist was clearing the land to plant more apple trees. But that work has been on hold until this issue is resolved.
Now he has put his orchard up for sale. The Chief said the sale is now under discussion.
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