Burial grounds limbo spawns meeting

Sarah Simpson, The Citizen: Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Those who have long been urging the conservation of ancient burial grounds at Somenos Creek will finally meet with the provincial government -- but it'll be about a month after the originally scheduled date.

Dianne Hinkley, Cowichan Tribes' lands research director confirmed they received a call Monday delaying the appointment, which had been set to take place on Tuesday.

"Yesterday just before lunch, the Minister cancelled on us," she said. "But we have rescheduled."

She remains hopeful, however.

"That gives us a little more time to work on it."

Timbercrest Estates Ltd. and Cowichan Tribes will now meet with the Provincial Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Kevin Krueger, on Nov. 4, in hopes the Minister will decide to go forward with a provincial purchase of the lands, to publicly protect the site for future generations.

The burial ground has been under development by Timbercrest since 1972 but in 1992 Cowichan Tribes began work to save the important cultural site. Since then, the remains of at least 35 individuals have been found and reinterred on-site.

In a news release Cowichan Tribes General Manager Ernie Elliott said Tribes has been asking to meet with the Minister for seven months.

"We hope the Minister will understand the archeological significance of the site for not only Cowichan people but for generations to come," he said.

An archeological report completed in March of this year detailed "significant discoveries" supporting the Cowichan's interest in protecting the entire property as a heritage site.

Among the discoveries was a 2,000-year-old architectural feature, possibly an early pit house, a type of dwelling dug into the ground, which archeologists say is very rare for Vancouver Island.

"These archeological sites are as important to Cowichan history as the pyramids are to Egypt," said Hinkley. "Our hope is that the province recognizes this and can offer a solution to this long standing conflict between Timbercrest Estates, Cowichan Tribes, the Municipality of North Cowichan and B.C. This is the last opportunity to ensure the preservation of this significance heritage site for public benefit."

© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

Source