黑料吃瓜网

A set of rocks meant to block partygoers from beach access may have also infringed Gwich鈥檌n harvesting rights.

Jozef Carnogursky, president of the Nihtat Gwich鈥檌n Council, approached town council last week about the rock barrier at the bottom of Carn Road. A set of large rocks had blocked access to the beach in one direction.

Carnogursky referenced the Gwich鈥檌n Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, saying it includes the right to access lands for harvesting, which can include harvesting driftwood.

Though those rights can be restricted in certain cases 鈥� such as for public safety, health or conservation purposes 鈥� there is a requirement of consultation with the Gwich鈥檌n beforehand, said Carnogursky.

鈥淲e believe that the town has overstepped its authority in terms of the barricades down on Carn Road,鈥� he said at council Wednesday, Oct. 11.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also our understanding that the town does not own the riverfront lands, and we feel that it should not be restricting access to the Gwich鈥檌n or any other person to those waterfront lands.鈥�

He asked town to remove the barriers immediately.

鈥淲e further ask that (in) any future decisions that may involve restriction of rights of Gwich鈥檌n, we as Gwich鈥檌n be consulted and involved in the decisions,鈥� said Carnogursky.

Mayor Jim McDonald said the rocks were intended to restrict vehicle access, not person access to that section of the beach.

鈥淲e had some complaints of people partying on the beach,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e certainly didn鈥檛 intend to restrict any harvesting or any of that type of activity but there was a problem earlier in the spring with partying along the beach. It was only intended to restrict vehicle access.鈥�

Rick Campbell, director of public services, said over the years the town has had to recover three abandoned vehicles in that area and clean up the remains of partygoers.

Campbell said 鈥渢here鈥檚 more than enough room鈥� for quads to go between the rocks for people to harvest, but Carnogursky took issue with that.

鈥淧art of those rights I referred to refer to modern methods of harvesting,鈥� said Carnogursky. 鈥淚 really think it鈥檚 unfair for people to define what those are without talking to us as Gwich鈥檌n, who hold those rights.鈥�

Coun. Vince Sharpe said a skidoo or quad would not fit between the rocks, and either way, they鈥檙e not on town property. He didn鈥檛 think the town had any jurisdiction blocking beach access.

鈥淚ts public land,鈥� said Sharpe. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not town-owned land. I don鈥檛 see where the town gets off putting that barrier down there to stop people from going onto federal government land. That鈥檚 a beach. It鈥檚 not our land.鈥�

Jerry Inglanasuk, chair of the Inuvik Community Corporation, says he supports Carnogursky.

He referred to the United Nations鈥� Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People, saying indigenous must be consulted on these issues.

鈥淭he town putting those rocks in there has affected people getting driftwood,鈥� said Inglanasuk. 鈥淚 think if the town consulted with the Gwich鈥檌n, they would have never had a problem.鈥�

On the subject of derelict vehicles in the area, he added that there鈥檚 an abandoned ship in that same spot that鈥檚 in worse shape than any vehicles that were left there.

After a meeting between the town and the NGC following the council appearing, the town agreed to move the rocks.