British Columbia

Nicola Valley chiefs protest biosolid shipment

The five First Nations chiefs of the Nicola Valley took their fight against biosolids on their land to the B.C. legislature on Monday.

Group wants to stop import of sewage sludge shipped from Lower Mainland, Okanagan

The protesters are calling on the government to stop importing sewage sludge shipped from the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan into their ancestral lands in Nicola Valley. (CBC)

The five First Nations chiefs of the Nicola Valley took their fight against biosolids on their land to the B.C. legislature on Monday. 

The group is calling on the government to stop importing sewage sludge shipped from the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan into their ancestral lands. 

"When it comes to biosolids, the government ignores and the government completely disregards, our rights protected by the constitution," said Chief Aaron Sam. 

For the last three months, Nicola Valley residents have been maintaining a blockade to prevent trucks transporting sewage sludge from entering the area. 

The province says they have been having conversations with the chiefs and met with them again on Monday.

But Environment Minister Mary Polak says farmers have the legal right to use whatever waste product they want on their properties.