Flathead Traditional Camp

The Flathead Traditional Camp was held in the Flathead Valley as it has been for generations. The Flathead Traditional Camp is in fact a series of Métis Camps that often start in spring (as soon as the snow leaves) and run until the snow forces a retreat from the Valley. Métis Camps are found near Butt's Cabin and at Sage Creek. Some are semi permanent and others are set up for a week or a few. Many Métis families spend significant time in the Flathead each year. The year starts with bear in the early summer. Métis enter the Valley as soon as the passes are open in late May or early June. Summer is for fishing, clearing trails and berry/medicine harvesting and fall months are for harvesting game for the freezer.

Captain Mark Carlson was in camp in early September and again in early October this year. Mark reports that the first week of October was as quiet as he has ever seen it. There were only four Métis hunters in the lower Flathead and no non-Aboriginal hunters; everyone had gone to hunt in the new elk seasons in the east Kootenays. The weather was hot, no goats were seen and very few deer, a few elk responded to the bugle but were not seen. One decent whitetail buck was the only harvest for the week.

Métis Nation BC opposes any new National Park for the Flathead River.

For a number of years, there has been a move to add sections of the Flathead Valley to the international Parks of Waterton National Park (Canada) and Glacier National Park (USA). This area has been important territories for Métis people for more than 200 years. Métis historic use is documented as early as 1809 and continues unabated to this day. Métis citizens of Métis Nation BC include families that are descended or related to historic Métis families continue to use the Flathead Valley, including the area in question for harvesting and other traditional land uses.

"Pro-Park forces continue to press for the designation of parts of the Flathead as National Park. "UN report buoys hopes to make Flathead a national park" was the July 26, 2010 headline in the Globe and Mail. "This report is a big international nudge for the government to do more," said Sarah Cox, B.C. spokeswoman for the Sierra Club. "It's time for British Columbia to step up and permanently protect our part of this remarkable ecosystem that Alberta and Montana have recognized for a long time." Casey Brennan, Southern Rockies Program Manager for the locally based conservation group, Wildsight, echoed these sentiments. "The report reaffirms what we already knew, that the Flathead's remarkable diversity of wildlife needs increased protection." It is interesting to note that these pro-Park advocates are not interested in the Aboriginal interests in the area and promote protectionism which will exclude aboriginal uses such as hunting.

Métis should make no mistake; these pro-Park lobbies have no interest in protecting Aboriginal Rights and have little concern if Métis Rights are trampled under the feet of tourists coming to a new National Park.

The sad history of the development of National Parks in Canada is one that sees the removal of Métis from their traditional lands and development of laws that exclude them from accessing historic harvesting and land use sites.

Métis Nation BC has made our opposition on any new National Park very clear to Parks Canada. We do not support the addition of portions of the Flathead Valley to Waterton National Park. We will not support the addition of this area to National Park status as long as National Parks exclude aboriginal harvesting and traditional land uses.

For more information contact Captain Mark Carlson or Director Gary Ducommun

Métis Traditional Hunt Camp held near Chetwynd

A large group of Métis assembled for a hunt camp north of Chetwynd in mid September. This camp was divided into the hard cores who camped in wall tents near the Moberly River and the not so hard cores who stayed at a ranch owned by a Métis family on Jackfish Lake Road. There were more than 30 people including elders and youth associated with the camp. Elder Lottie Kozak kept the tent campers in line and was a fabulous cook.

More than a dozen hunters representing six Métis families spent a week looking for Elk (Waskisu) and Moose (Mooswa). Even with all the non-aboriginal hunters in the area, the Métis were successful in harvesting two bull Moose and four bull Elk. One youth hunter harvested a six point Elk (his first big game) and an 80 year old elder teamed up with a younger (50 year old) hunter to harvest a large bull Moose. The harvest was shared by elders, Métis with young families and first time hunters.

The area hunted is known as Monias, or "white man" in Cree. Métis people have used the area for more than 200 years. Some of those at the harvesting camp had harvested here for decades while others were invited as their first time in the area. Gary Ducommun, Director of Natural Resources for MNBC stated "this is the fortieth year that I have come to this area to harvest with the Métis descendants of William McGillivray". Gary says "the McGillivray family and mine have a 200 year history". William McGillivray (NWC) and Director Ducommun's fourth great grandfather James Bird (HBC) were instrumental in the 1821 Hudson Bay Company and Northwest Company merger. A painting in the HBC archives depicts an historic meeting of McGillivray, Bird and HBC director Nicholas Garry discussing the merger in 1821.

Elder Lottie Kozak when asked what she thought of the camp replied "this is my home, I only stay at my house, and I live on the land in camps like this".

The camp was a great success and everyone looks forward to next year.