Tseshaht First Nation is seeking assistance in identifying culprits illegally dumping trash in their traditional territory. The latest mess was dumped alongside Airport Road, next to the Somass River and near the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council office building.
On Aug. 25 Tseshaht public works staff discovered nine heavy pails filled with rocks and cement. The grey five gallon pails were sold as containers for drywall compound called Best Mud in the Joint. Each pail was filled with rocks which were cemented in and flattened on the top. Two bolts protrude from the cement and appear to have served as an anchor for round posts.
According to Lisa Gallic, Tseshaht Public Works crewmen patrol the area and must clean it up about once a week, hauling trash to the nearby landfill. It’s disappointing and frustrating given the fact that the landfill is only about a kilometer away as the crow flies from this illegal dump site.
The dumpsites are in a particularly sensitive area. Right next to the trash is the Somass River with salmon jumping as Gallic examined the mess. Tseshaht leaders have tried surveillance cameras and managed to collect some information, but then someone discovered two of the cameras and stole them.
Workers have gone through bags of household trash dumped on Tseshaht land and have contacted people based on information found in the trash.
“We tell them to come and pick it up or their names will be turned over to the authorities,” Gallic said.
Tseshaht crews have picked up tarps and other miscellaneous trash and hauled it to the landfill. But Gallic is not certain the dump will take this heavy mix of concrete, rocks and plastic.
“We can’t just leave it here or it could end up in the river,” Gallic said, adding this is just getting ridiculous.
“It’s a concern to Tseshaht because this is our home,” Gallic said. She asks if anyone sees suspicious activity to contact the Tseshaht Public Works department at 250-724-1225.
