Image: B.C. Heritage Branch

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Hat Creek Ranch shouldn’t be swept up in Reconciliation

Jun 2, 2019 | 10:18 PM

KAMLOOPS — A NEWS ITEM about the management of the Hat Creek Ranch tourist attraction raises cause for concern.

The ranch has special meaning for me — my great-great-grandfather established the place as a roadhouse north of present-day Cache Creek in 1861. A Scottish fur trader with an indigenous wife, he saw a business opportunity on the route of the wagon road to the Barkerville gold fields.

Successive owners added buildings and expanded the farm. Today, tourists come by bus and car to stroll the grounds and enjoy historic re-enactments and displays.

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The Friends of Historic Hat Creek Ranch, which began as an advisory group and currently operates the ranch on contract, is worried because the Heritage Branch wants to move the goalposts and put management out to a Request for Proposals.

There’s nothing unusual about an RFP; it’s been done before, ever since Tourism B.C. handed off the site to the Heritage Branch years ago.

What’s concerning the Friends is uncertainty. They say their contract was supposed to be renewed but is now up in the air over requirements for First Nations participation. If that’s the reason, some context is important.

Indigenous peoples have lived in the area for thousands of years and their descendants need to have a role, and do. Several years ago a pithouse and interpretation centre were built on ranch property. The Bonaparte Band has members on the board and 40 per cent of ranch employees are indigenous.

But Hat Creek Ranch itself is not indigenous. It shouldn’t be swept up in Reconciliation. The Friends have done a stellar job with Hat Creek. There’s no need for an RFP but if there is one it shouldn’t include misdirected, onerous and misdirected conditions.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger co-authored the official history of Hat Creek Ranch. He is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.