By The Canadian Press

Work suspended at Coastal GasLink site to investigate Indigenous artifact claims

Feb 16, 2019 | 10:10 AM

HOUSTON, B.C — Coastal GasLink says it has suspended pipeline work south of Houston, B.C, while claims of the discovery of Indigenous artifacts on the site are investigated.

The company says it has cordoned off the area, requested that a qualified archaeologist visit the site and the B.C Oil and Gas Commission will conduct another site visit to investigate the claims.

It says an archeological impact assessment for the site was approved in 2016, but its archeologists were not able to conduct on-site fieldwork during the regulatory and permitting process due to road access issues.

In a statement, Unist’ot’en clan spokeswoman Freda Huson says their members have been combing the company’s construction site for a proposed man camp since heavy machinery turned up the forest floor.

The statement says supporters recovered two stone tools on Wednesday and archeologists from the Smithsonian Institute estimate one dates back up to 3500 years.

Boogie The Bridge

Boogie The Bridge Event Information

Apr 19, 2024

The Tattle of Hastings

THE TATTLE OF HASTINGS: Goodbye, Toledo

9h ago

Question of the Week

Is 'Canada's Tournament Capital' an accurate description of Kamloops?

Apr 22, 2024

In January, the area was the site of a blockade against the pipeline where police moved in and arrested 14 people.

(The Canadian Press)