Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band receives federal funds to stabilize floodplain land
KAMLOOPS — A First Nation in the North Thompson has received federal funding to increase its resilience and protect its local environment.
The federal government announced $1.6 million will go toward three projects to improve natural infrastructure, which includes protecting reserve lands on the floodplain in Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band.
In a news release issued Wednesday (March 19), the federal government says Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band will construct a bioengineered retaining wall that will include brush and hedge brush layering, which will use live cuttings and rooted plants to stabilize approximately 130 metres of shoreline.
“Extreme weather, risk of flooding and wildfire – all exacerbated by climate change – means that our role as stewards of our territory is critical,” Ed Lebourdais, Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band Kukpi7, says. “As such, we leverage proactive emergency management activities be it mitigation, preparation or response. We appreciate the federal funding support to undertake much needed flood mitigation work for our community (IR #4). Whether it’s our homelands in and around Clinton, that we continue to access for food sovereignty or cultural practice and have reserve land (IR #1), or where Whispering Pines/Clinton Band membership was relocated to in 1972 (IR#4) we are ensuring that our lands and waters are well managed for generations to come.”
