Lower Kootenay Band vote on land deal

Members of the Lower Kootenay Band are voting in round two of a land referendum today.

It asks “yes” or “no” to surrendering 22 acres, located next to the local landfill, to the RDCK.

In exchange they’d receive Burden’s Cut, a 475-acre parcel of land on the south arm of Kootenay Lake.

Here’s Chief Jason Louie.

Louie says this has been a 20 year negotiation process with the RDCK and all parties will benefit if the yes vote wins.

The deal will provide the RDCK with additional property for the landfill, extending its life and will give the band a presence on Kootenay Lake for the first time since the late 1800’s, when the reservation system came into effect.