The Xá:y Syí:ts’emílep, which includes the Gill Bar Restoration and Management Plan Team in partnership with the S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance (STSA), the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA), the Watershed Watch Salmon Society (WWSS), and the Pelólxw Tribe, are pleased to announce the Gill Bar Restoration Project Launch and Community Conversation on February 21st, 2024.
The title Xá:y Syí:ts’emílep means “Gill Sand Bar”, and this community event will focus on educating the public on the plans and actions being taken to revitalize and restore the Gill Bar reach of the Fraser River. Stewarded by Pelólxw Tribe members Cheam and Sqwá, these waterways have been important transportation routes and sources of food for many generations. Now, with the leadership of the Cheam and Sqwá, this popular recreation and fishing site is being given the attention and care it needs to thrive. The Project Team invites you to attend, learn, and share feedback on actions these First Nations are collaboratively working on for the future of this important river reach. With the coming together of our communities, we can take the next steps to restore, revitalize, and preserve Gill Bar for the benefit of many generations to come!
If you live close to Gill Bar and are curious to know what the restoration and management plans for the area might look like or are keen to ensure other values are considered, this is an important meeting to attend. This event is open to Stó:lō community members keen to learn about this restorative project. This event is also open to those living close to Gill Bar, the larger Chilliwack community, and users of Gill Bar now affected by its closure.
In appreciation of your time and interest in this amazing biodiverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem, we will be providing dinner at 5:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you there!
EVENT INFORMATION
Title: Xá:y Syí:ts’emílep: Restoring Gill Bar, a Community Vision for a Sustainable Ecosystem
Location: Cheam Band Hall (52170 Old Yale Rd, Rosedale, BC V0X 1X2)
Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Time: Doors open at 5:00 pm. The event runs from 5:30 to 9:00 pm with dinner served at 5:30 pm.
RSVP: RVSP here
BACKGROUND
The waterways in and around Gill Bar are home to numerous species such as salmon, the endangered White Sturgeon, numerous four-legged creatures, diverse vegetation, and a variety of bird species. The side channels are key spawning habitats and overwintering areas, and the bar itself is often inundated with spring freshet waters, an important retreat for juvenile salmon as they make their way out to the ocean. This bar and its side channels are critical for the well-being of fish, wildlife, plant foods, and medicines.
Gill Bar has long been subject to high-impact recreational activities such as mud bogging, heavy ATV use, shooting, and large bonfires. These activities posed significant threats to the soft silt of the Fraser River and its sensitive ecosystems. Responding to First Nations advocacy and a groundswell of public concerns, Fisheries and Oceans Canada mandated the closure of Gill Bar to public vehicular access in the summer of 2022, creating an opportunity to plan for and undertake restoration and rehabilitation initiatives.
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Dani Kent
Communications Coordinator, S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance
[email protected]
(604) 824 2420