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March 1 2001
Nitinat Windsurfing Society
334 Robertson St. Victoria B.C.
V8S 3X7
To the Membership of the Nitinat Windsurfing Society;
The Society has secured the Forestry maintenance contract for the Nitinat Campsite, 2001 season.
The system that was developed last year will be continued this year. There will be no increase in Society Fees or the cost of the Forestry Pass.
There will not be a Forestry appointed contractor this year. The Society will function as the contractor as per last year. There will not be an additional nightly fee to camp at the site. The annual $27.00 Forestry Pass will be required to camp at the Nitinat site as at any Forestry campsite.*
For the 2001 season the Nitinat Windsurfing Society will be responsible for; the maintenance of the site, the collection of the required $27.00 Forestry Pass, recording visits, ensuring the beach and site is kept clean, cleaning and stocking the outhouses, insurance, and distributing info as Forestry requests.
The Directors propose to meet the Forestry requirements through a combination of; volunteer workdays, individual volunteer help and an understanding by the members to help keep the site clean and tidy. Revenue will be needed to meet financial requirements and the Directors plan to generate the dollars needed in the following manner:
As with last year there will be Society members present during the required service days to check for Forestry Passes, sell memberships, and maintain the site. The service days will be posted on the web site and on the notice board at the site. If you are interested in helping out this year please send us an email or contact Tom Sullivan or myself. As always we are in need of members who are willing to commit to helping out on a weekend or for a few days in the summer.
The best way to get your Forestry Pass and Society Membership is to have the provided membership form filled out and ready when you first come up to Nitinat.
Alternatively you can mail in your membership form and we will mail you back a Forestry Pass and your decal. May sure you leave plenty of time if you use the mail.
Included in this mail out are a 2001 membership form and a statement from Tom Sullivan our current president. Please fill in the membership form and direct it back to the Society via mail or better yet bring it with you on your first visit to Nitinat. A member of the N.W.S. will be available to process the form. The membership form can also be found on the web site.
There are Director positions vacant that need to be filled. Specifically, we need a Social Director, a Public Relations Director, and a Volunteer Director. These jobs can be as big or as small as you want them to be (currently no one person is taking care of them) but they do require at least a one season commitment. If you are interested please contact me via email. Also, keep in mind that we will be calling for nominations for the Director’s positions in July prior to the AGM. As it turns out, the Director’s position is quite manageable and doesn’t require a huge time commitment. New people are needed to come on board to keep the Society moving ahead.
For more information consult our web site at www.island.net/~nitinat
Or send us an email at the societies’ email address nitinat@island.net
Or mail us at our address (above).
NOTE: The Society’s Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Sat July 28 at 6.00 in the Nitinat Campsite.
Paul Betts
May 3, 2000
Q What is the current status of treaty negotiations with the Ditidaht First Nation?
A The parties at the Ditidaht and Pacheedaht treaty negotiation table are in Stage 4 of the British Columbia Treaty Commission (BCTC) treaty process. The Ditidaht First Nation is currently negotiating towards an agreement- in-principle with Canada and British Columbia and has been since 1996. In 1997 the Pacheedaht First Nation proposed with Ditidaht to merge their negotiations for greater efficiency.
Q Is there a time frame for the settlement of the Ditidaht Treaty?
A Canada and British Columbia made a joint offer to the First Nations in October of last year. Since that time, the parties continue to meet and engage in discussions on tax, fiscal and other matters, as well as on how to move ahead with negotiations following the joint federal and provincial offer.The parties are optimistic and are moving forward with negotiations. However, from past experiences in British Columbia and other jurisdictions, a final agreement may be two to five years away or more.
Q How will the treaty negotiations affect future windsurfing at Nitinat Lake and what future access and campsite conditions are being negotiated?
A Canada and British Columbia have proposed that access provisions will be negotiated for proposed Settlement Land. The Province is negotiating to ensure the following access provisions:
Q What will be the status of the road leading into the campsite?
A The Province is negotiating to ensure that public use of bridges, roads and utility corridors would be maintained. The road leading into the campsite is proposed to be a First Nation public road.
Q Will public access to the foreshore of Nitinat Lake be guaranteed in the Treaty?
A The Province is negotiating to ensure that access to popular recreation areas like Windsurfer Beach lands for recreational purposes would continue. Settlement land would extend to the ordinary high watermark. The Crown would retain all foreshore and submerged land.
Q After treaty, will there be charges for using the Nitinat Windsurfer Beach campsite?
A The Ditidaht First Nation would be able to charge for the use of settlement land and costs would likely be comparable to similar recreation sites in the region.
Q Is there any opportunity for the Nitinat Windsurfing Society to participate in the question of specified access to Windsurfer Beach as mentioned in the Treaty?
A First of all, to clarify, the parties do not have a treaty. At this point in the negotiations, the parties are negotiating towards an agreement-in-principle and are in stage 4 of the 6 stage BCTC treaty process. A treaty or final agreement is reached following ratification of the final agreement by all three parties. Representatives of the Nitinat Windsurfing Society have met directly with the negotiators for British Columbia and have clearly expressed concerns and preferences. This information is being taken into consideration by the negotiators. British Columbia will maintain an open door policy for windsurfer and other third party interests to be considered.
Q What is the status of the privately owned Weyerhaeuser land next to and between the current BC Forest Service Campsite (windsurfing access) and the Caycuse River?
A The approximate 90 hectares remains private land. Present treaty negotiations do not contemplate a change in ownership.
Q What will the access provisions be for the privately leased RV lot land (at the East end of the lake near the Ditidaht Village (Malachan)?
A The property is privately owned. Access will be assured from the public road.
Q What will the access provisions be for boaters at the federal public boat ramp (at the northeast end of the lake nearest the Ditidaht Village)?
A Provisions for public access have not yet been agreed to. British Columbia has made four proposals to ensure continued public use of the boat launch on Nitinat Lake (called the Gus Bay boat launch).
Q Will the TimberWest/BC Forest Service recreation site and the road to Knob Point on the northwest shore of Nitinat Lake be part of the Ditidaht Treaty settlement lands and can it be used for windsurfing access in the future?
A The TimberWest/BC Forest Service Recreation Site is not proposed as settlement lands at this time and would remain a forest service recreation site. The road would remain available for use; however, there is no guarantee of road maintenance as this is dependent on Forest industry needs.
Q What is the status of the Ditidaht First Nation's willingness to work together with the Nitinat Windsurfing Society?
A The Ditidaht First Nation has expressed an interest in dialogue with the Nitinat Windsurfing Society. Provincial negotiators will facilitate a meeting between Ditidaht and the Nitinat Windsurfing Society in the near future.
Q Is the Province taking the interests of the Nitinat Windsurfing Society into account and are those interests being heard at Regional Advisory Committee level?
A The Province has heard from the Nitinat Windsurfing Society that access is a key interest. In the offer British Columbia made with Canada to the Ditidaht and Pacheedaht First Nations in October of last year (1999) we made our access interests very clear. We are negotiating to ensure that access to the lands for recreational purposes would continue, including access to popular recreation areas like the West Coast Trail, Windsurfer Beach and local parks, beaches and rivers.The West Island Regional Advisory Committee provides advice and information to both the provincial and federal negotiators regarding the Ditidaht treaty negotiations. The WIRAC includes representatives from many key social and economic sectors in the region, including local business, aquaculture, commercial fisheries, education, health, community service, environment, forest companies, labour, local government, outdoor recreation, sports fishing, trapping and wildlife organizations.
Note: A copy of the Joint Federal-Provincial Land and Cash Offer made to the Ditidaht and Pacheedaht First Nations on October 28, 1999 can be seen at:http://www.aaf.gov.bc.ca/aaf/news/dpoffer-26oct.htm
For more information on this or other topics, contact:
Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs Communications Branch
Box 9100 Stn. Prov. Government
Victoria BC
V8W 9B1
Telephone: (250) 356-8281 Toll-Free: 1-800-880-1022
e-mail: Norman.Marcy@gems6.gov.bc.ca
Street Address:908 Pandora Avenue
Victoria, British Columbia
March. 28, 2000
Several items of importance have taken place over the winter that the Directors want to inform you of. The most important being that the Nitinat Campsite has changed from being an "enhanced service site" back to a "regular" site.
The Society has caused this to happen by way of entering into a co- operative agreement with South Island Forestry to maintain the site. There will not be Forestry appointed contractor this year, nor will there be an additional nightly fee to camp at the site.
The annual $27.00 Forestry Pass will be required to camp at the Nitinat site as at any Forestry campsite.
* This means that for the 2000 season the Nitinat Windsurfing Society will be responsible for; the maintenance of the site, the collection of the required $27.00 Forestry Pass, recording visits, ensuring the beach and site is kept clean, cleaning and stocking the outhouses, insurance, and distributing info as Forestry requests.
The Directors propose to meet the Forestry requirements through a combination of; volunteer workdays, individual volunteer help and an understanding by the members to help keep the site clean and tidy. Revenue will be needed to meet the financial requirements and the Directors plan to generate the dollars needed in the following manner: We will ask everyone with an interest in the site to become a member of the Nitinat Windsurfing Society. Individual membership will remain at $5.00/year. We will ask everyone who camps at the site to purchase the required Forestry $27.00 Annual Pass from the Society, as we will receive a commission from each sale. If an Annual Pass is not purchased a nightly fee is required by Forestry.
* We will ask everyone who plans to camp at the site to pay $18.00, which will pay for an annual camping decal (vehicle windshield).
** We will ask the business community, both Windsurfing related and Tourism related to support the society through taking out a corporate membership.
BUY AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP, A SOCIETY CAMPING DECAL, AND FORESTRY'S CAMPING PASS FROM THE SOCIETY FOR $50.00
It is very important to understand that the Society needs your support in order to be successful at maintaining access to the Nitinat campsite. If the Society is not able to meet the Forestry requirements then the site will revert back to an "enhanced site" next season and they will award the maintenance and fee collection to a private contractor (as was the case during the 1999 season). Also the society will not be in a good position to co-operate with the native band when they eventually gain ownership of the site.
To put the society's' $18.00 camping pass into perspective consider that up until last year Nitinat was perhaps the only place to camp/windsurf for free in North America. Even camping/windsurfing at La Vantana in Baja costs $30.00 US/week. Closer to home, it costs to sail at Squamish (approx. $100.00/year) and it cost to sail at Harrison Lake. Oldman Dam in southern Alberta costs ($75.00/year) with a shorter season and even fewer facilities.
Also, be aware that the Society's mandate requires it to operate in a non- profit situation and any surplus revenue will be redirected as the membership sees fit.
Please fill in a membership form and direct it back to the society via
mail or bring them with you on your first visit to Nitinat. A member
of the N.W.S. will be available to process the form. Names and contact
info will be posted on the message board or you can send me an email .
The membership form can be found by clicking here.
For more information email Paul @ nitinat@island.net
* There is a senior's rate available on the Forestry Pass with the appropriate identification.
** Additional decals for those members who drive different vehicles to Nitinat will be available at nominal cost.
Paul Betts
Secretary/Treasurer
A short report on our Nov 17/99 meeting with South Island Forestry from Paul Betts NWS Secretary
On Nov 17 the NWS Executive Directors Tom Sullivan, Geoff Wood, and I (Paul Betts) made the trip to Duncan to meet with Randy Taylor and Neil Robertson of South Island BC Forest Service. The meeting lasted approximately 2 hours and it was an initial fact finding and information meeting. Nothing was agreed on at this meeting but we came away with an understanding in principal. I will now A) paraphrase the important points of the meeting, B) make a statement on where we stand at this point C) make some observations that will require your impute at our next meeting and D) ask Tom Sullivan to set our next directors meeting date. We need to get back to Randy Taylor by mid December to meet the next deadline.
A) BC Forest Service Ministry requirements for entering into an agreement with them are as follows (in general) and include:
If we can meet the requirement of the basic management contract Forestry is prepared to redesignate the site as a "general site" therefor eliminating the daily user fee. The $27.00 annual pass is cast in stone.
B) As of this time we left Forestry with the understanding that we would present them with a preliminary proposal by mid December.
C) Issues that require a decision by the executive include in part;
D)Tom could you please call a meeting and set a time, date and location?
June 15, 1999
Nitinat Windsurfing Society
344 Robertson St
Victoria, B. C. Canada
V8S 3X7
ph: 250-655-7142
fax: 250-655-7148
e-mail: gmwood@aol.comRandy Taylor,
Recreation Officer
South Island Forest District
4227 Sixth Avenue
Port Alberni, BC
V9Y 7M8
June 15, 1999Dear Randy:
re: Nitinat Windsurfing SocietyAs you are aware, we have incorporated a non-profit society to assist in the preservation of the windsurfing access to Nitinat Lake, and to work with BC’s Ministry of Forests to best manage the existing resources. These resources form a very valuable revenue base for local communities and BC as a whole, and provide an irreplaceable locale for us to enjoy what is undoubtedly our highest priority recreational activity. The Society incorporation documents have been forwarded to Chris Elgie by Paul Betts, our secretary/treasurer, in regard to our support of the Canadian National Windsurfing Championships. Tom Sullivan is Society President, and I am vice-president.We have had contact with many different persons in Forestry, mainly over the issues of fees and access, and I hope that this has not caused too much confusion or consternation. If so, we apologise, and hope to focus our efforts in most effectively dealing with yourself, and developing a situation that works to all our benefit. We see great potential for the area if a co- ordinated, joint effort can be made with those who have its best interest at heart.We, as a non-profit Society, are very interested in operating and managing the Nitinat campground, and it was most unfortunate that we were not organised and able to participate in the early stages of the existing service contract. We would like to prepare recommendations and a proposal to the Ministry regarding the campsite operation for the future, and request the following information from you to assist us in this endeavour:
- A list of the current facilities at the campsite including tables, outhouses, fire-rings, etc.
- Details of the contract specifications for the 1999 season, and the public details of the winning bid for the current contract, including any provisions for continuation of the existing contract.
- An itemisation of the funds expended on this campsite, possibly for the last three seasons (1996 through 1998), including:
- your estimates of the number of persons employed or contracted to work the site, (and their percentage effort directed specifically towards Nitinat);
- Cost and type of maintenance work, including equipment typically required;
- Summary of visitor statistics.
As part of my feedback from Janna Kumi, it was indicated that the user estimate was slightly over 5,000 per year averaged for the last five years. The overwhelming majority of those users are windsurfers and are becoming our Society members. As a Society we would like to ensure that these people can continue to enjoy the incredible local windsurfing, and that we do not lose any significant portion of off-Island visitors or overnight campers. I believe that together we can structure a very workable situation for site management that will be more beneficial to each party than an approach that relies on a for-profit contractor. We have a strong historical interest and relationship with the Nitinat Lake Campsite, going back close to fifteen years, and an excellent track record for care, consideration, and cleanliness of this area that is very dear to our hearts. We look forward to receiving your information on the above requests and working with you for the future of Nitinat Lake Campsite.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey M. Wood vice-president,
Nitinat Windsurfing Society
cc: Janna Kumi, Operations Division
The Honourable David Zirnhelt
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