The Gitxsan House Group has issued a cease and desist letter to the BC government after members of the house group found a critical access road leading to traditional fishing holes and berry picking patches was dug up and made impassable without their consent or knowledge.

In a press release issued Aug. 13 by Wilp Luutkudziiwus, the house group says it’s dismayed by the road closure around the 18 km mark on the Suskwa Forest Service Road, especially at a time when berry season and food fishing is still in the middle of harvest.

Despite ongoing discussions for a joint action to maintain the road, the province moved forward with a road closure with no warning and no indication as to why they needed to close the road, according to Pansy Wright Simms, a spokesperson for Wilp Luutkudziiwus.

“Some of the Wilps in this area have contracts with the Province to do road clearing and maintenance. But they, too are cut off from conducting that work and their Chiefs were not consulted or even made aware this was happening. Local logging contractors are now forced to take a very long back route to access their fibre supply, threatening, if not eliminating, the financial viability of their work," Simms said.

The Province of BC and the Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources didn’t respond to requests for clarification or comment on the road closure ahead of broadcast.

Listen to CICK's interview with Pansy Wright Simms below: