Dear Editor:

I would say that the Supreme Court of British Columbia no doubt consists of members who descend from the religion that helped destroy a profoundly felt and beautiful nature-based religion that protected the environment for thousands of years and therefore have little conception of what Qat’muk really means as it refers to a large tract of land now up for grabs by the Jumbo Mountain Village Resort Municipality and its proponents.

The idea of the sacred (i.e. that which belongs to God) has been eroded out of modern cultures and I would bet that few really knows what it means in light of economic growth and material gains that we rely on. It seems to me that when First Nations people are seeking ancient positive ways to recover from the cultural genocide that was inflicted on them by the religion and dominant culture of the white man, they are ignored or turned down.

Seeking and finding spiritual solace and comfort cannot always be found these days, but it is an important part of human psychology when it comes to facing the trials and tribulations of existence.  Psychologists will affirm that people of faith can face and cope with the most horrendous conditions.   Digressing somewhat from my spiritual concerns, I state that here in B.C. and throughout Canada we are constantly seeing clashes between beliefs and values with regards to protecting the environment versus commercial enterprises, and Jumbo Mountain Village Resort Municipality is a prime example. If this is the case of what this provincial government intends for the future, by appointing officials in favour of a powerful wealthy elite minority thereby eroding the democracy that the common people thought existed by free election, then in my opinion we have obviously stepped back into the past where a powerful elite dictated how we should live.

With the advent of climatic changes upon us that will  affect the way we live, looking back into the past for positive ways of coping rather than counting on what we think we know today might not be a bad thing.

Margaret O’Sullivan

Invermere