When Cheslatta Carrier Nation (CCN) purchased a commercial barge from Rio Tinto in 2012, the barge was not a necessity.
“We had nothing happening in 2012,” said James Rakochy, CCN Marine Manager. “We purchased it on speculation that things would improve.”
Although the barge was in full operation in the early 2000s – when logging companies were harvesting south of Ootsa Lake -, more profitable logging closer to the sawmills eventually pulled them out of the area.
“There was cheaper wood closer to the mills,” explained Rakochy. “So everybody left the area [Southside] and there was no demand for that barge.”
Even though the barge had been sitting on Ootsa Lake for many years, not being used, Cheslatta saw the barge as an opportunity. They not only purchased the barge, but also two tug boats that belonged to a private logging contractor.
“There was infrastructure there and we wanted to see it utilized,” said Rakochy. “We didn’t want those boats leaving the lake because to get one of those tug boats in and out of the lake is a big job.”
As it turns out, Cheslatta’s investment paid off.
In 2014, the area was struck by the biggest wildfire of the year in British Columbia. It occurred near the Chelaslie River, consuming approximately 1330 square kilometres, or 133,100 hectares.
“We were ready with the barge and tug, so the government hired our barge services for three months to fight that fire to haul equipment back and forth.”
In 2015, Cheslatta closed a two-year deal with Canfor. The deal allows Canfor to harvest areas affected by the mountain pine beetle epidemic on Cheslatta territory and to use CCN’s barge to carry wood across Ootsa Lake.
All the wood has been transported to Canfor’s Plateau Sawmill in Vanderhoof.
In the last nine months, the barge hauled 250,000 cubit metres of wood, which equates to an average of 28 truckloads per day. For its second year of operation, the barge is expected to carry another 250,000 cubic metres of wood.
That barge has provided full-time work to four CCN band members, and 12 other band members will be trained for marine operations starting this week.
“That was such an important part of why we bought it [the barge],” said Rakochy. “To provide jobs for Cheslatta people.”
Rakochy said part of the profits will also be put toward housing and expansion of CCN’s marine operations.
The tug boat that now works full time tugging the barge across Ootsa Lake – The Valerie – has a peculiar story itself. The 1950s’ tug boat, which sank in 2013, received a great deal of attention when a Discovery Channel film crew travelled to Southside to recover it from Ootsa Lake. The recovery team included Jamie Davis, made famous in the television series Highway Thru Hell. The Valerie received a full restoration by Industrial Transformers Inc. early last year.
The second tug boat – The Davis Straits -, which also sank and was recovered in 2013, is currently sitting in dry dock. However, Cheslatta has plans to give this tug a full restoration.
“We may actually start cleaning it up in preparation to be restored this summer,” said Rakochy. “In anticipation of some other projects that might happen on the lake, we eventually see a use for that boat.”
Although the contract with Canfor ends in 2017, Rakochy sees opportunity for at least three more years of salvaging on Cheslatta territory.
“There should be no reason why that barge shouldn’t continue for another three years to remove the dead pine and get that forest replanted and regrown,” said Rakochy.
“We’re hoping the province will find a way to keep that harvest going there [Southside],” he added. “Cheslatta is very proud of their marine operations on the Nechako reservoir and we want to see it continue.”
