PIB Chief's Comment on Summerland

The Penticton Western News ran an illuminating interview with Penticton Indian Band Chief Stewart Phillip this week, covering issues at all levels, including Summerland's recent boundary extension:

"PWN: You mentioned the possibility of confrontation. Can you point to one local issue that could lead to confrontation?
Phillip: Here locally, we are concerned about issues around the (RDOS) regional growth strategy. It encompasses the encroachment of so-called Crown land, which has an underlying aboriginal title and rights interest. You have a similar situation where the District of Summerland has arbitrarily extended their boundaries to encompass the proposed Summerland Hills Resort Golf Course, which represents a substantial encroachment on our aboriginal title and lands. You have the Apex ski resort contemplating doubling the boundaries of their resort. You have a proposed uranium exploration announced here on the western borders of our reserve land basis. So you can see that just here locally, there are significant examples of what you call the dichotomy that manifests itself ... and there are flashpoints like this that are more significant in the north dealing with energy development, oil and gas."